AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Dallas Update Division News Awards & Grants Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | November 2, 2011 Books & Reading Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar

American Libraries Online

Libraries tap into crowd power It seemed only natural when one of the most- consulted websites in the world recently posted a ubiquitous banner stating WIKIPEDIA LOVES LIBRARIES. What has resulted is a nationwide “editathon”—editing marathons organized by active Wikipedia users to expand and add depth to the website’s content on a wide range of cultural and historical topics. Dozens of them are taking place in cities across the country, including Atlanta, Boulder, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.... American Libraries news, Nov. 1

School filters reach into students’ homes Pop star Lisa Loeb will Gordon Flagg writes: “The installation of filtering software on bring her wit, wacky computers continues to create problems for students doing humor, and sparkling assignments using computers on their school campuses—and even creativity to the Wrap Up beyond. A survey conducted by the Dartmouth (Mass.) High School’s Rev Up Celebration during student newspaper, The Spectrum, has found that, since the school the Midwinter Exhibits district installed Fortiguard Web Filtering in January, 89% of students Closing on January 23. have had difficulty researching school-related topics on campus. It also reported that students and teachers have been banned from all streaming media.”... AL: Censorship Watch, Nov. 2

Next Steps: Building a competitive advantage Brian Mathews writes: “When Susan Nutter (right) took over the leadership role at North Carolina State University Libraries in Raleigh, it wasn’t a very inspiring organization. A study found it to be the academic library least able to meet its mission in the state; as a result, faculty were upset, and then they did something about it. In 1996 the faculty senate voted unanimously to use a portion of tuition increases to improve the libraries rather than to raise their own salaries. This was the spark that Nutter needed.”... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Technology in Practice: Information literacy 2.0 Meredith Farkas writes: “Critical-inquiry skills are among the most important in a world in which the half-life of information is rapidly shrinking. These days, what you know is almost less important than what you can find out. And finding out today requires a set of skills that are very different from what most libraries focus on. In addition to academic sources, a huge wealth of content is being produced by people every day in knowledgebases like Wikipedia, review sites like Trip Advisor, and in blogs. Some of this content is legitimate and valuable—but some of it isn’t.”... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec. ALA News

Schulman, Jordan, Loeb scheduled for Midwinter Acclaimed authors Helen Schulman (left) and Hillary Jordan (right) are scheduled to kick off the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas on January 20, and Grammy-nominated Lisa Loeb will close out the festivities on January 23. The authors will sign copies of their latest works at their publishers’ booths during the Opening Exhibits Reception.... Conference Services, Nov. 1

FCC announces Connect America Fund The Federal Communications Commission announced the creation of the Connect America Fund on October 27 as part of its reform and modernization of the Universal Service Fund. It outlined five goals for this reform, including ensuring universal availability of modern networks capable of providing voice and broadband service to homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. ALA had filed comments (PDF file) in April in support of creating the CAF.... District Dispatch, Oct. 31

First set of ALA web pages are live in Drupal Louise Gruenberg writes: “On October 19, we reached two truly significant milestones in the ALA migration to Drupal project. We soft-launched the first phase of single-sign-on powered by Shibboleth and the PLA website in Drupal. Although the process hasn’t been without a few bumps, on October 27 we launched ALSC, ALSConnect, LLAMA, and I Love Libraries. Here is what we learned during these test migrations.”... ITTS News, Oct. 28

National Novel Writing Month The Campaign for America’s Libraries is kicking off monthlong activities for National Novel Writing Month. During November, librarians across the country and around the world will be reminding would-be writers of all the great resources they have to offer when it comes to writing their masterpiece. A Library Outreach Guide can be found here. GalleyCat is offering one piece of NaNoWriMo advice every day for the rest of the month.... ALA Public Information Office, Nov. 1; GalleyCat, Nov. 1 http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

ALA student chapters survey results Don Wood writes: “The 2011 ALA Student Chapters Survey was conducted over a three-month period from July to October 2011. The results are in and can be found posted (PDF file) at the Student Chapter Leadership group on ALA Connect. One interesting finding is that only just over 51% of the students answering the survey belong to their state library association.”... AL: Student Membership Blog, Nov. 1

Money Smart Week @ your library, 2012 Interested in helping your community become “money smart,” but missed out on the recent webinar? It is now archived and available for viewing at your convenience. Next April 21–28, you and your library can participate with hundreds of other libraries across the country. Money Smart Week’s mission is to promote personal financial literacy.... Chapter Relations Office

Webinar on comics/manga censorship Access to comic books, graphic novels, and manga is an increasingly hot topic in the library, creative, and free speech communities. To kick off our “Intellectual Freedom across the Globe” webinar series, OIF and the IFLA Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression will present a “Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, and Libraries” webinar on November 9, a one-hour look at how censorship affects comics around the world. Register online.... OIF Blog, Oct. 31

New series of diversity webinars Office for Diversity is introducing the first three installments of its Diversity Leadership Online series, beginning December 1. This ongoing webinar series provides the foundation for a culture of responsible diversity leadership within the profession. To register and learn more about upcoming sessions, visit the ALA Online Learning website.... Office for Diversity, Oct. 31

Tips for building support for rural libraries Start building support for your rural library by attending the “Small but Powerful Webinar for Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library.” This free hourlong webinar will take place at 1 p.m. Central time on December 14 and will present tips and strategies from the toolkit, share the experiences of a rural librarian who has successfully built support, and highlight additional advocacy tools and resources available from ALA. Registration is required.... Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Nov. 1

LSSC will partner with other programs

The ALA–Allied Professional Association announced November 1 that the Library Support Staff Certification program will partner with 11 Library Assistant Training programs in a project that will allow their graduates to receive the LSSC without having to further demonstrate their skills and knowledge.... ALA–Allied Professional Association , Nov. 1

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

An introduction to LSSC LSSC will offer an hourlong informational webinar at 2 p.m. Central time on November 15. The presentation will explain the value of this certification to library support staff, employers, and library users. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered by program staff members.... ALA–Allied Professional Association , Nov. 1

Cutting-edge technology nominations extended The Office for Information Technology Policy and LITA are extending the deadline for submitting nominations for best library practices using cutting-edge technology to November 8. Members from the OITP Subcommittee on America’s Libraries for the 21st Century and LITA will review all nominations and may conduct selected interviews or site visits to identify those libraries that are truly offering a best practice or most innovative service.... Office for Information Technology Policy, Oct. 31

Hugo, based on author-illustrator Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is in theaters nationwide beginning November 23. Use this poster and bookmark in celebration of this Caldecott Medal- winning book and soon-to-be movie Featured review: Adult biography classic. Hugo from Isaacson, Walter. Steve Jobs. Oct. 2011. ©2011 Paramount 630p. Simon and Schuster, hardcover (978- Pictures Corporation 1-4516-4853-9). and GK Films. NEW! Now we all know how the story ends. But From ALA Graphics. that only adds a certain frisson to this biography of the man who was determined to “make a dent in reality.” Shaping reality was what Jobs was about, not only in his New this week extraordinary vision of how personal in American computers could remake the world but also in his personal life, Libraries where early forays into Eastern mysticism led to belief in what Star Trek called a “reality distortion field”—Jobs believed reality was malleable and made others believe it, too. The book is filled with examples of projects that seemed impossible to complete but were completed and goals that appeared unachievable but were achieved—all because Jobs insisted it could be done. Yet Jobs was no saint. Juxatposed against Jobs’ story are contrasting profiles of Apple cofounder Steve http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Wozniak, the actual engineer, who would benignly have given away the specs for designing personal computers (he did give Next Steps low-level associates some of his Apple shares before it it went public), and Bill Gates, at different times Jobs’ partner and Technology in rival.... Practice

Point, push, print, and E-Content publish Will Manley writes: “Fifty years ago, Censorship Watch Warhol saw that America’s strongest cultural forces, celebrity and democracy, would fuse together. He rightly understood Currents that we would become a country that would guarantee not just life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but also fame. For Perpetual Beta every Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, we now have a Kate and Jon Gosselin. We have gone from daguerreotype to Flickr in Inside Scoop 150 years. Just as anyone can be a writer, anyone can now be an artist. It’s as easy as point, push, print, and publish.”... Ask the ALA Librarian 31 horror films in 31 days: The terrifying conclusion Solutions and Daniel Kraus writes: “There’s a famous line Services from John Carpenter’s They Live: ‘I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I’m AL Focus all out of bubblegum.’ That’s exactly what I did to the third annual 31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge. Previous Octobers, I suffered the tortures of the damned, with the final days Great Libraries spent drooling in front of the TV as indescribable horror after of the World indescribable horror flashed before my bloodshot eyes, so determined was I to meet my queasy quota. But not this year. Now excuse me while I spend the next month watching Golden Girls reruns to detox.”... Likely Stories, Nov. 1

@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... Bibliothèque Ste.- Geneviève, Paris. Dallas Update Completed in 1851 by architect Henri Labrouste, this library The Dallas Arts District inherited the The cornerstone and catalyst for creative vitality in collections of the the region, the Arts District is home to the city’s Benedictine Abbey of leading visual and performing arts institutions. In Ste.-Geneviève, said 1978, Boston consultants Carr-Lynch recommended to have been founded that Dallas relocate its major arts institutions from in 502 by the Frankish different parts of the city to the northeast corner of King Clovis I. The iron downtown. The District includes the Dallas Museum of structure of its reading Art, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas room has been praised Opera, and other venues. During the Midwinter Meeting, the Crow by Modernist architects Collection of Asian Art will feature an exhibition of work by emerging for its introduction of Shanghai-based artist Qui Anxiong.... advanced technology http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Dallas Arts District in a monumental building. It is now part Airline boarding times of the University of Airlines have been boarding passengers since the first commercial Paris 1. flight, but as they have added new classes of seating to their cabins and new fees for priority boarding—all in the name of more revenue— they have slowed down the whole process. Checked-baggage fees have only added to the problem, and planes are now fuller. That is why some airlines have gone back to the drawing board to rein in a lengthening process.... New York Times, Oct. 31 Division News Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne, AASL conference comes to a close Universities of Paris. International mobile technology expert Mimi Ito Built as the library of (right) brought the AASL 15th National Conference the University of Paris and Exhibition in Minneapolis to an end October in 1770 after the 30. More than 3,000 school librarians, educators, university acquired the exhibitors, and guests discussed key issues that college of the Jesuits, impact our nation’s school libraries. The who were expelled conference featured preconference workshops, from France in 1763, several school and educational tours, more than 100 top-quality the library closed in continuing education programs, thought provoking opening and closing 1793 during the general sessions, author events and more than 200 exhibiting French Revolution and companies.... its books and holdings AASL, Oct. 31 were transferred elsewhere. The current Nicholas Carr on Stone Age thinking building by architect Author Nicholas G. Carr, the speaker at the AASL Henri-Paul Nénot was National Conference’s Opening General Session on completed in 1897, October 28, contends that technology could be moving three more stories us away from innovation and progress, and closer to were added in 1932, the Stone Age in terms of how we process information and a basement level —a scary thought, considering the country’s desperate was put in place in the call for 21st-century thinking. Our brains are changing 1970s. The Collections as we use new technologies, and Carr argued that although we Patrimoniales contain acquire skills, such as increased visual-spatial intelligence (being the university archives aware of many moving parts at once), we also weaken our “mindful up to the Revolution, knowledge acquisition,” inductive analysis, critical thinking, historical manuscripts, imagination, and reflection.... the papers of eSchool News, Nov. 1 philosopher Victor Cousin, the papers of Streaming and teaming for strong the dukes of Richelieu, school libraries and some 100,000 Dorcas Hand writes: “The trouble with agreeing pre-1801 imprints. The to blog the AASL conference is that the days are library now serves five so chock full of great sessions and good friends of the universities of that I can’t sit still to write. Saturday morning, I Paris. attended Buffy Hamilton’s (right) streamed session on transliteracy. I look forward to a This AL Direct feature showcases 250 libraries second viewing when the stream is archived because it was so meaty around the world that are I will need a second listen to absorb all her insights. The Learning notable for their exquisite Commons session with Judi Repman of Georgia Southern University in architecture, historic Statesboro was also an interesting experience.” Read her previous collections, and innovative post on e-ink and collection development.... services. If you find yourself on vacation near one of AL: Inside Scoop, Oct. 27, 31 them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be AASL from the floor available in The Whole

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Christopher Harris writes: “I found a Library Handbook 5, edited by George M. Eberhart, which couple of fun e-content tidbits on the is scheduled for publication in exhibit hall floor of the AASL National 2013 by ALA Editions. Conference in Minneapolis. First up is ThingLink, a site that provides image enhancements through tag links. Think old school image maps, but taken to an entirely new level. In the Gale booth, I saw the new design for the Gale Virtual Reference Library interface. For the last few years, GVRL has been more of an ebook database than a book reading platform.”... AL: E-Content, Nov. 2

Closing AASL celebration at Nicollet Island Pavilion Wendy Stephens writes: “On October 29, many school librarians were already on their ways back east into the early October snow, but the climate, bolstered with auxiliary heat lamps, was more hospitable at the Nicollet Island Pavillion where AASL held its Annual Conference Closing Celebration. Just across the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis, conference-goers were treated to pan-seared walleye Career Leads and wild rice, both Minnesota delicacies, and had the opportunity to make s’mores over fire pits (above).”... from AASL Blog, Oct. 30

ACRL releases revised Standards for Libraries in Higher Education Product Manager, The ACRL Board of Directors has approved a WorldCat Quality, comprehensive revision of the association’s “Standards OCLC, Dublin, Ohio. for Libraries in Higher Education.” The newly revised Tens of thousands of version of SLHE provides a guide to libraries in libraries around the advancing and sustaining their role as partners in world use OCLC educating students, achieving their institutions’ services to locate, missions, and positioning libraries as leaders in acquire, catalog, lend, assessment and continuous improvement on their and preserve library campuses. ACRL is offering a free introductory webcast on the materials. The Product standards at 1 p.m. Central time on November 9. RSVP here.... Manager is responsible ACRL, Nov. 1 for all aspects of product planning and ALSC prepares for Día 2012 development. This role ALSC will celebrate the 16th anniversary of El día also provides critical de los niños / El día de los libros (Children’s Day input to the product / Book Day), also known as Día, on April 30, marketing team in 2012. On November 14, ALSC will roll out the product release and new Día website, which will include a free promotional efforts.... downloadable resource guide containing programming, outreach, book lists, and activity sheets. Librarians can also register their event on the Día website. Registration opens on November 14. ALSC is also offering three new Día-related webinars.... ALSC, Oct. 31

Literary Landmark status given to Hackley Public Library ALTAFF has named the 121-year-old Hackley Public Library in Muskegon, Michigan, a Literary Landmark as @ More jobs... a result of its connection to Caldecott Medal winner Verna Aardema Vugteveen. Vugteveen, who wrote under the pen name Verna Aardema, died in 2000. In http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

1976, she won the Caldecott for Why Mosquitoes Buzz Digital Library in People’s Ears.... of the Week Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle, Oct. 31

LLAMA webinar keeps your library secure Just when everything in your library is running smoothly, along comes an unruly patron who seems strangely threatening. LLAMA will present “A Person of Interest: Safety and Security in the Library” on November 16. The webinar will demonstrate effective ways to deal with patrons in the library who are breaking library policy, displaying behavioral problems, or breaking the law. Register online.... LLAMA, Oct. 31

Web course on mashups and APIs LITA’s five-day web course, “Creating Library Web Services: Mashups Maps of Delaware and APIs,” will be offered November 14–18 to help participants learn and the Mid-Atlantic how to bring pieces of the web together with library data. Live Region, drawn from synchronous lectures will take place each day 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Central the Historic Map time. This course has sold out in the past; register here.... Collection in the LITA, Nov. 1 Special Collections Department of the Genealogy reference institute at Midwinter University of Delaware Early-bird registration for RUSA’s “Behind the Genealogy Reference Library, includes Desk: Genealogy Is Bigger in Texas” (event code RUS1) ends several hundred sheet December 2. The full-day Midwinter event will take place January 20 maps representing and will feature expert speakers on local and specialized resources. Delaware, Maryland, Librarians interested in learning how to use genealogy-related New Jersey, resources more effectively are invited to attend.... Pennsylvania, New RUSA, Nov. 1 York, Virginia, West Virginia, and Registration begins for Teen Tech Week Washington, D.C.; and 2012 four atlases of the Registration has opened for YALSA’s Teen Tech Week, state of Delaware. The which will be held March 4–10, 2012. The theme is digitized maps are “Geek Out @ your library.” Teen Tech Week is an from the 17th through annual celebration of technology and digital literacy, the 20th centuries, and encourages teens to take advantage of the many and include technologies available to them, free of charge, at their transportation, libraries.... regional, municipal, YALSA, Nov. 1 manuscript, and historical maps; and Teen Read Week 2011 nautical charts of Thousands of school and public libraries Delaware Bay. throughout the country joined YALSA to celebrate Teen Read Week 2011, October 16– Do you know of a digital 22. More than 5,000 libraries embraced this library collection that we can year’s theme, Picture It @ your library, by mention in this AL Direct feature? Tell us about it. hosting an array of events and programs that Browse previous Digital encouraged teens to read for fun and become Libraries of the Week at the I regular library users.... Love Libraries site. YALSA, Nov. 1

PLA Boot Camp recap http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Kathleen Hughes writes: “The 2011 PLA ‘Results’ Boot Camp took place October 18–21, in Nashville. Designed to help attendees get their libraries in strategic shape and prepared to meet any challenges, the PLA Boot Camp program is led by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia. We asked Boot Camp attendees to tell us about the experience. Here are some of their observations.”... PLA Blog, Oct. 25 Awards & Grants Public Perception How the World National Library of Medicine honors winners of Sees Us software development challenge Five software applications are the winners of the National Library of “There is no frigate Medicine’s first software development challenge. The winning apps can like a book, and no help people learn about anatomy, help researchers find gene harbor like a library, information in research literature, and help people sift through large where those who amounts of scientific and medical information.... love books but can’t National Institutes of Health News, Oct. 27 afford their own complete collections, 2011 Dundee International Book Prize or those who need a The 2011 Dundee Literary Festival in Scotland computer, or kids announced October 27 that Irish writer Simon Ashe- who need a safe Browne, 26, is winner of this year’s Dundee International place to read after Book Prize. The first-time author was awarded more school, or moms than $16,000 for his psychological thriller Sympathy for with toddlers who the Doc, which will be published by Glasgow-based want their babies to Cargo Publishing under the new title Nothing Human learn to read, can all Left. The annual literary award offers one of the UK’s largest prizes come together and for unpublished authors.... share in a great Deadline News, Oct. 27 community resource.” World Fantasy Awards Charlie Jane Anders writes: “The verdict is in, and we —Detective fiction author watched it happen. The World Fantasy Awards at the Sara Paretsky, urging residents of Chicago, and October 30 World Fantasy Convention in San Diego, anywhere else library hours California, were a star-studded celebration of fantasy and staff are threatened, to writers, publishers, and readers. The award for best advocate for their public novel went to Nnedi Okorafor for Who Fears Death libraries, Sara Paretsky’s blog, (DAW), and the award for best story went to Joyce Oct. 30. Carol Oates for ‘Fossil-Figures.’”... io9, Oct. 31 @ More quotes... Bard Fiction Prize 2012 Author Benjamin Hale has been selected to receive the Bard Fiction Prize for 2012. The prize, established in 2001 by Bard College to encourage and support promising young fiction writers, consists of a $30,000 cash award and appointment as writer in residence at the college for one semester. Hale is receiving the prize Connect with your kids: for his debut novel, The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore Father-and-Son Road Trip (Twelve, 2011).... Photographing America’s Bard College, Nov. 1 Libraries Seen Online

Salt Lake library director resigns amid

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

controversy After more than three years of running Salt Lake City’s libraries, director Beth Elder (right) has stepped down. The Salt Lake City Library board of directors on Carnegie Library of October 28 unanimously accepted Elder’s resignation Pittsburgh Helps Patrons after receiving multiple complaints about her with Job Seeking

management style and policy changes. She said Connect with your kids: stepping aside would help the library move forward. Elder restructured Celebrate El Día de los library management and staffing roles, saying she had to make tough Muertos but much-needed changes over the years. Debbie Ehrman, a longtime library employee, will act as interim director.... Native-American and Other Symbolic Mascots Can Salt Lake City Deseret News, Oct. 28 Divide Communities

Librarians protest Chicago Connect with your kids: The Secret to Your Child's mayor’s proposed cuts Academic Success During an October 31 Chicago City Council hearing on Mayor Rahm Carmen Agra Deedy: 'All Emanuel’s proposed budget, librarians students should have the benefit of trained school staged a storytime read-in in front of the librarians.' mayor’s office to voice opposition to his plan to cut library hours and staff. Children sat on the floor in their What’s Your Favorite Book? Halloween costumes as librarians held an interactive storytime reading Is It the Same as Oprah’s? books such as Go Away Big Green Monster and Bark, George. Aldermen showed up to the City Hall storytime to support librarians, Join Us on Facebook and several said they could not vote for Emanuel’s budget if the

library cuts remain. Librarians presented a petition with 4,000 Subscribe to our signatures to rescind the cuts. Watch the newscast (1:10).... Newsletter Chicago Tribune, Oct. 31; Chicago Sun-Times, Oct, 31; WMAQ-TV, Chicago, Oct. 31

Libraries become outlet for powerless residents From the moment West Caldwell (N.J.) Library Manager Karen Kelly arrived at work October 31, “the phones were ringing off the hook,” she said. After patrons realized the library was open, the next question they had was whether the library had Wi-Fi. “We are serving a dual purpose by providing warmth and knowledge,” said WCPL Director April Judge.... Caldwells (N.J.) Patch, Nov. 1

Libraries as a core service Dave Peters writes: “How crucial are libraries to a community? Beloved by many, they nonetheless are among the first places residents turn when faced with a desire to save money. We’ve been exploring this question as part of our ‘Forced to Choose’ project. We also asked people in our Public Insight Network to give us their thoughts. We have a lot of librarians in the network, so we heard a TweetWatch lot of reasons to consider libraries core services at the heart of what a community is. But we heard from others as well.”... Follow: Minnesota Public Radio, Nov. 1 StoryWorld 2011 Library will not ban Occupy Bangor protesters Conference, San The Bangor (Maine) Public Library will not adopt a policy to ban the Francisco, Oct. 31– Occupy Bangor protesters from camping out on library grounds. The Nov. 2, at: demonstration started on October 29. Protesters are required to leave #swc11 the nearby Pierce Park when it closes at 10 p.m. From there, they must move over to the library grounds. As it stands, anyone is Digital Library

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

allowed on library property and can access its Wi-Fi internet, even Federation, Fall Forum, when it is closed.... Baltimore, Oct. 31– WABI-TV, Bangor, Maine, Nov. 1 Nov. 2, at: #dlfforum California must value its librarians Regina Powers writes: “California paid for my master’s degree in New York Library library and information science. While I am grateful to have had the Association, Annual grant and the opportunity to go back to school, I wish now that I had Conference, Saratoga instead trained to be an electrician, a plumber, or an auto mechanic. Springs, Nov. 2–5, at: California does not value librarians. Other states employ an average #nyla11 of one public librarian to 6,250 patrons. As of last year, California librarians were each expected to serve 10,854 patrons.”... 31st Charleston Los Angeles Times, Oct. 26 Conference, Charleston, S.C., Nov. Should DCPL stay in the Martin 2–5, at: Luther King library? #chsconf11 Jonathan O’Connell writes: “The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is a historic RFID in Libraries landmark that, with its location in downtown Conference, London, Washington, D.C., is able to serve residents U.K., Nov. 8, at: from around the city and provide support to #rfid11 the District of Columbia Public Library system’s 24 other branches. But the building, completed in 1972, is also expensive to maintain. Streaming Media West, For instance: Because a specific, hard-to-find window is needed to Los Angeles, Nov. 8–9, replace any that break in the building, fixing a broken window costs at: $16,000.”... #smwest Washington Post: Capital Business, Oct. 27 ALA Midwinter Planned cuts at Philadelphia Library for the Blind Meeting, Dallas, Jan. Officials at the Free Library of Philadelphia and others are fighting 20–24, at: against state plans for cutting services at Philadelphia Library for the #alamw12 Blind and Physically Handicapped and shifting much of its work to its smaller counterpart in Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia library, the nation’s American Libraries oldest library for the blind, provides services to the blind, physically news stories, blog handicapped, and hearing impaired in the eastern half of the state, posts, tweets, and while the smaller Pittsburgh library serves the western half.... videos, at: Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 27 amlibraries Accomplice pleads guilty in document thefts A presidential historian’s assistant pleaded guilty October 27 to conspiring to steal valuable documents signed by Abraham Lincoln, Calendar Napoleon Bonaparte, and other historic figures from both sides of the Atlantic. Jason Savedoff, 24, admits he worked with historian Barry Nov. 9: Landau since late last year to steal cultural heritage items from LYRASIS Annual museums throughout the Northeast, including historical societies in Member Meeting, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.... Online or at a number Associated Press, Oct. 27 of community sites. “Content, Access, and Library janitor pleads guilty to theft of books, DVDs the Role of Libraries in A former library janitor who stole—and then sold—books and DVDs a Connected World.” from the Lisle (Ill.) Library, where he worked, has been placed on two years’ probation and ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution after Nov. 9–11: pleading guilty to felony theft. James F. Jackson, 43, was arrested Access Services August 27. Police say Jackson stole perhaps thousands of items and Conference, Georgia then sold them on the internet.... Tech Global Learning Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 27 Center, Atlanta. “Unlocking the 21st Report: Multnomah County should Century Library!” privatize its libraries An October report, Checking Out the Options (PDF Nov. 14–15: http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

file), by the pro-corporate and libertarian Cascade Life and Literature, Policy Institute, comes as Multnomah (Oreg.) Conference on County commissioners are thinking of placing a biodiversity literature library district authorization measure on the May digitization, Field 2012 primary ballot. If approved by voters, the Museum, Chicago. district would provide permanent tax-raising authority for the library system. However, the report suggests that the county instead put library operations up for a Nov. 14–18: 2011 Global private bid and charge annual user fees, arguing, “There is no Education inherent reason why library workers need to be unionized public Conference, online employees.”... Portland (Oreg.) Tribune, Oct. 25 conference.

LC closes its darkroom Nov. 16: From the end of the Great Depression until 2011, The RDA anyone could order a silver gelatin reproduction, Vocabularies: printed from negatives, of any image in the Library Implementation, of Congress collection, most recently for about Extension, and $100 a print. Not any more. As a cost-cutting Mapping, webinar. measure, the library’s duplication services no Sponsored by the longer include darkroom-made prints. You can still National Information order a digitally printed duplication. Or if you want Standards Organization Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” (right) as and the Dublin Core wallpaper for your desktop, you can download it for free.... Metadata Initiative. Washington City Paper: Arts Desk, Oct. 26 Nov. 21–23: Library hosts Boardwalk Empire historians International On October 29, the Atlantic City (N.J.) Free Public Library hosted a Conference on panel of three Atlantic City historians—Ralph E. Hunter Sr., Allen Management of Pergament, and Boardwalk Empire author Nelson Johnson—to discuss Emergent Digital Prohibition in the city, the vital role of the city’s black population, and EcoSystems, Westin the differences between fact and the events as portrayed in the San Francisco Market award-winning HBO series Boardwalk Empire. “People think [the show] Street. is all stuff that happened in Atlantic City, but didn’t really happen,” Hunter said. “I know it, Nelson knows it, and the whole world would Nov. 28–30: know if they read his book.”... Semantic Web in Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), Oct. 29 Libraries Conference, Hamburg, Germany. Some nonprofits could lose tax-exempt status “Scholarly Fruitland (Idaho) Community Library depends on cash donations to Communication in the pay its rent and expenses like internet service for 10 public-access Web of Data.” computers. Since the library opened in 2000, its use has mushroomed. But it surprised volunteer librarian Ginger Strawn to Nov. 30– hear that her library is one of the nonprofits that the Internal Dec. 2: Revenue Service says have lost their tax-exempt status because they Australasian haven’t filed financial-disclosure forms for at least three years. The Conference on IRS website on October 28 listed more than 386,000 nonprofits Information nationwide that have had their nonprofit status revoked.... Systems, University of Boise Idaho Statesman, Oct. 29 Sydney, Australia. Library receives Mary Todd “Identifying the Information Systems Lincoln’s commitment Discipline.” documents Public officials have transferred Mary Todd Dec. 1–3: Lincoln’s insanity hearing record from Cook Humanities, Arts, County (Ill.) Circuit Court vaults to the Science, and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Technology Springfield. There are 16 court pleadings and 39 expense vouchers, Advanced including a petition by Mary’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, asking to Collaboratory, have his mother declared insane. Next will come a public International reexamination of her hearing to see if she should have been Conference, University committed to a psychiatric hospital in 1875.... of Michigan, Ann Arbor. WBBM-TV, Chicago, Oct. 31

Library zombies come to Dec. 5–6: International Sarnia Conference on Grey Who knew zombies have rules? At least Literature, Library of the ones walking through downtown Congress, Washington, Sarnia, Ontario, on October 29 did during D.C. “The Grey Circuit: the third annual Zombiefest put on by From Social the Sarnia branch of the Lambton County Networking to Wealth (Ont.) Library. Jeff Beeler, reference librarian and head zombie Creation.” wrangler, reminded about 40 costumed participants in a quick orientation and safety session before the walk began. The library has Feb. 13–15: been showing horror films for a half dozen years prior to Halloween O’Reilly Tools of and, in recent years, turned the event into Zombiefest.... Change for Sarnia (Ont.) Observer, Oct. 30 Publishing Children’s library to open next to Conference, New York Marriott Marquis. Japanese “cedar of hope” A private library will open in November near the Feb. 23–26: giant Japanese cedar in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Alaska Library prefecture, Japan, that was dubbed “the cedar of Association, Annual hope” after it survived the devastating March 11 Conference, Westmark tsunami. The wooden library has been constructed Fairbanks Hotel and within the grounds of Imaizumi Tenmangu shrine, Conference Center. which was itself rebuilt. Rikuzentakata was chosen as the location for “Alaska’s Libraries: the project, as the city’s only library had been destroyed, and seven Heart of the library staffers were tsunami victims.... Community.” Daily Yomiuri (Japan), Oct. 29

Go back to the Top Mar. 13–17: Public Library Association, National Tech Talk Conference, Philadelphia. The Great Firewall of America Mathew Ingram writes: “Many internet users in the United States Mar. 21–23: have watched with horror as countries like France and Britain have Tennessee Library proposed or instituted so-called ‘three strikes’ laws, which cut off Association, Annual internet access to those accused of repeated acts of copyright Conference, Marriott infringement. Now the United States has its own version of this kind Knoxville. “Libraries of law, and it is potentially much worse: The Stop Online Piracy Act Transform.” (PDF file), introduced in the House October 26, would give governments and private corporations unprecedented powers to More... remove websites from the internet on the flimsiest of grounds, and @ would force internet service providers to play the role of copyright police.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation has more details.... GigaOM, Oct. 27; Ars Technica, June; Electronic Frontier Foundation, Oct. 28 Contact Us Exploiting the fun factor American Libraries Stephen Cass writes: “Games, game design, and Direct our instinct to play them are forces now driving the technologies at the center of today’s always-on, always-connected businesses. Mobile devices and social networks have become as much platforms for AL Direct is a free electronic

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

playing games as anything else. Companies that newsletter emailed every ignore games face the same fate as those that Wednesday to personal ignored the rise of the internet in the 1990s. At best, they will be members of the American forced to play an expensive game of catch-up; at worst, they will fall Library Association and irretrievably behind their competitors.”... subscribers. Technology Review, Nov. 1

Internet Explorer drops below 50% of web usage Peter Bright writes: “A couple of interesting things happened in the world of web browser usage during October. The more significant one George M. Eberhart, is that Internet Explorer’s share of global browser usage dropped Editor: below 50% for the first time in more than a decade. Less significant, [email protected] but also notable, is that Chrome for the first time overtook Firefox here at Ars, making it the technologist’s browser of choice.”... Ars Technica, Nov. 2

The best antivirus tools for 2012 Beverly Goldberg, Neil J. Rubenking writes: “New model-year security Senior Editor: [email protected] products used to come out in the fall, like new model- year cars. This year the first 2012 antivirus (G Data AntiVirus 2012) turned up way back in May. So far PCMag has reviewed nine antivirus tools explicitly identified as 2012 models, along with several others Greg Landgraf, released during the same period. Which of these recent Associate Editor: releases is the best?”... [email protected] PC Magazine, Oct. 5

The best podcast manager for iPhone Adam Dachis writes: “There aren’t many podcast managers, or ‘podcatchers,’ for iOS, but perhaps that’s Sanhita SinhaRoy, because there’s one that’s already next to perfect. Associate Editor: Downcast handles practically every podcast need [email protected] you’ve got, offering easy updating, streaming, and multitouch gestures. Every one of Downcast’s features Jennifer Henderson, was designed to make getting and listening to your podcasts easy.”... Contributing Researcher Lifehacker, Nov. 2 To advertise in American The best Android phone Libraries Direct, contact: Brian Lam writes: “First, a caveat: I still think the iPhone is the best phone because of how polished it is and because it has a large number of quality apps. But Android

phones are powerful, look better every day, and are Brian Searles: unparalleled in their connection to the cloud. So I won’t [email protected] keep nagging you about the iPhone—I’ll just tell you which Android phone I’d get if someone put a gun to my head. An especially important handset is coming out shortly: the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (right).”... The Wirecutter, Oct. 27 Katie Bane: [email protected] Android orphans: A sad history of support Michael DeGusta writes: “The announcement that Nexus One users Send feedback: won’t be getting upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich led [email protected] some to justifiably question Google’s support of their devices. I look at it a little differently: Nexus One owners are lucky. I’ve been AL Direct FAQ: americanlibrariesmagazine researching the history of OS updates on Android phones, and Nexus .org/aldirect

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

One users have fared much, much better than most Android buyers. The picture isn’t pretty for most Android users.”... All links outside the ALA The Understatement, Oct. 26; TechCrunch, Oct. 26; Marco.org, Oct. 26 website are provided for informational purposes only. An Android app’s answer to Siri Questions about the content of any external site should David Pogue writes: “I spent much of my recent be addressed to the iPhone 4S review talking about Siri, the incredibly administrator of that site. useful speech-controlled virtual assistant that’s the best new feature on the phone. I find myself using Sign up to receive AL it constantly—to send text messages, set or cancel Direct every Wednesday alarms, create appointments, and create here. reminders. Android phones have always let you American Libraries speak to type. But they’ve never had anything like 50 E. Huron St. Siri—or so I thought. Then I got this note about Chicago, IL 60611 Speaktoit in my inbox from a PR guy.”... Website New York Times: Pogue’s Posts, Oct. 12, 27 800-545-2433, ext. 4216

E-Content ISSN 1559-369X

Do you want a smart book? Atria is publishing its first book to be equipped with a smart chip, the publisher announced October 28. Tapping the RFID-enabled sticker with a near field communication–enabled smartphone will bring up a website with additional materials for the book. The debut smart book is The Impulse Economy: Understanding Mobile Shoppers and What Makes Them Buy by Gary Schwartz. The smart book allows the physical book to become interactive for both the book buyer and the book browser.... Los Angeles Times: Jacket Copy, Oct. 28

Ebrary ebook downloads Wayne Bivens-Tatum writes: “Ebrary now allows users to download ebooks (PDF file) to devices. Ebrary users can download up to 60 pages of a book into a permanent PDF file or an entire ebook using Adobe Digital Editions, which seems to load onto every ebook reader except the one I own (the Kindle). Ebrary has always had an ebook model similar to the e- journal model we’re all familiar with, where multiple users can access the same item just as they can with journal articles.”... Academic Librarian, Oct. 30; Ebrary, Oct. 27

Extend the due date on your Kindle ebook from the library Bobbi Newman writes: “Just a friendly tip from your friendly online librarian. It is pretty easy to ‘extend’ the due date of the library ebook you check out to your Kindle, just turn your wireless connection off until you’re done with it. This will allow you to keep reading the book until you’re done. The title won’t expire until you reactivate your wireless connection.”... Librarian by Day, Oct. 26

Paying for first Seth Godin writes: “Here’s a bit of speculation: Soon, there will be three kinds of books on the Kindle. $1.99 ebooks: This is the clearing price for virtually all ebooks going forward. $5 ebooks: This is the price for bestsellers, hot titles, and books you have no choice but to buy because they were assigned in school. $10 ebooks: This is the

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

price you will pay to get the book first, to get it fast, to get it before everyone else. There might even be a subset of books for $20 in this category.”... The Domino Project, Oct. 22

The 10 most amazing databases in the world Rena Marie Pacella writes: “The 10 most amazing databases in the world do more than store knowledge. They provide researchers with new ways to solve long-cold crimes, predict economic recessions, measure your love life, map the universe, and save lives.”... Popular Science, Oct. 31

PDA in the library Steve Kolowich writes: “Patron-Driven Acquisition is a model of ebook licensing that aims to relieve library purchasing agents from spending thousands on books no one will end up reading. A new report on the future of academic libraries identifies such demand-based services as an inevitable trend for libraries under pressure to prove that their expenditures are in line with their value. And one university says its own experimentation has produced damning data exposing the inefficiency of traditional collection-building compared to new methods that could prevail in the digital era.”... Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 28

Las Vegas schools have high hopes for iPad program (subscription required) Paper textbooks might soon go the way of the slide rule and the typewriter as the Clark County, Nevada, school district launches a $790,050 iPad program, one of the largest of its kind in the United States. Instead of getting hefty books, about 1,150 Las Vegas middle- and high-school students were given thin iPad 2 tablets, each loaded with an interactive-textbook app, developed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for their Algebra 1 classes. The app is more than just a digital textbook.... Education Week, Oct. 18

Twitterology: A new science? Ben Zimmer writes: “Twitter is many things to many people, but lately it has been a gold mine for scholars in fields like linguistics, sociology, and psychology who are looking for real-time language data to analyze. Twitter’s appeal to researchers is its immediacy and its immensity. Instead of relying on questionnaires and other laborious, time-consuming methods of data collection, social scientists can simply take advantage of Twitter’s stream to eavesdrop on a virtually limitless array of language in action.”... New York Times Sunday Review, Oct. 29 Books & Reading

Top 10 great satirists LordZB writes: “Satire is the form of humor that holds people, or society in general, up for examination, and ridicules the follies revealed. Good satire should offer improving examples or at least make us consider choices we often take for granted. In this sense, satire is of huge value to society. While satire can be cruel to the victims it mocks, it should always be funny. These

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

10 individuals are the best satirists that have ever lived.”... Listverse, Oct. 31

Six famous novels written in less than a month Jill Harness writes: “It’s National Novel Writing Month! Some people criticize the concept, claiming that novels written in under a month aren’t going to be worth the paper they’re printed on. But there are plenty of examples to prove the naysayers wrong. In fact, many classic, bestselling novels were penned within this time frame. While these authors completed these fine pieces of literature without the motivation of National Novel Writing Month, they still serve as an excellent example.”... Mental Floss, Nov. 1

New librarian completely unaware that books exist (satire) Information Processor and Facilitator Kathleen Olivo, 22, was floored to discover that the Excelsior Library, where she started work today, is in fact full of books. “I couldn’t believe that so much information is organized this way,” Olivo said, pulling a hardcover copy of Johnny Tremaine down from the shelves and swiping a hesitant finger along a page. “Have you seen these things? They’re so bulky!” She held the book up to her face and sniffed. “Gross.”... Insert Eyeroll, Oct. 31

A mysterious binding Helena E. Wright writes: “One of the treasures held by the Division of Culture and the Arts at the National Museum of American History is a beautiful book in a splendid binding. We know a good deal about the book, its history, and its importance, but some questions remain, particularly about its binding. It’s an intriguing mystery. The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer was published by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press in England in 1896. The volume was part of the collection of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who sold it at auction in 1938.”... O Say Can You See?, Nov. 2

Written in prison L. D. Mitchell writes: “Here’s an interesting idea for a private library: Collect nothing but titles that have been penned by prisoners. Some of the world’s greatest, as well as some of the most influential, literature ever written was penned by prisoners. Among such titles are Cervantes’s Don Quixote (begun while the author was locked up in debtor’s prison); Ezra Pound’s Pisan Cantos (written while the author was imprisoned by Italian partisans during World War II); and Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy (written while the author was under arrest on false charges of treason).”... The Private Library, Oct. 28

Actions & Answers

The role of guerrilla librarianship Mandy Henk writes: “Guerrilla librarianship

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

involves building and maintaining libraries directly where people and the need for information intersect. It can mean building them on a beach, in a bar, or at an occupation. Guerrilla libraries exist for many reasons, and they are well-grounded in Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science. Most of all, guerrilla librarianship is an act of resistance.”... Occupy Wall Street Library blog, Oct. 28

The career road of Occupy Wall Street Damian Ghigliotty writes: “Mandy Henk, circulation, reserves, and interlibrary loan librarian at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, joined the Occupy movement in late September and rediscovered the role she cares most about—connecting people with information. Since then, she has commuted back and forth between Greencastle and Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan with a focus on developing new models for libraries at a time when many are facing budget shortfalls.”... FINS, Oct. 31

12 ways to save your library Jennifer Derrick writes: “I’ve always been a huge supporter of our library, giving money, time, and materials (they’re even in my will), but it’s not enough when just a few people are giving. When the community got together to fight the closure, I learned a few additional ways to help fight cutbacks and closures, as well as ensure the subject never comes up in the first place. Here are some ideas. Note that the more of these you can do simultaneously, the better your chances of keeping your library alive and thriving.”... Saving Advice, Nov. 1

These library projects got funded: Why not yours? PC Sweeney writes: “Every once in a while I peruse the amazing projects that are happening on Kickstarter. I am especially interested in projects with a library or librarian theme to them. I have been reading about some amazing projects done by librarians around the world, and at the same time I have heard other librarians lamenting the lack of funding for awesome projects of their own. It seems this would be a great way to raise money for your library pet project. Each of these projects have funding goals of less than $10,000 and most are for less than $5,000.”... PC Sweeney’s Blog, Oct. 27

Bake a bundt along with the Food Librarian Bake a bundt for National Bundt Day on November 15. Then submit a photo or blog post by November 24 to Mary Yogi, the Food Librarian, and she will send you a 1.25-inch button (right) for baking along with her. She has also baked a bundt a day since October 17 in her “I Like Big Bundts 3” challenge, in which she will make a total of 30 cakes. (The Doll Bundt Cake was extraordinary!) See the interview with the Food Librarian at I Love Libraries....

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

The Food Librarian; I Love Libraries

17 Twitter marketing tips Cindy King writes: “Are you looking for fresh ideas to improve your Twitter marketing? We sought out hot Twitter tips from the pros. Twitter has already grown more in the last nine months than in the last five years and this trend is expected to continue. How does Twitter fit into your social media marketing? Here are 17 Twitter marketing tips shared by Social Media Examiner’s writers.”... Social Media Examiner, Oct. 26

Book inscription tells a tale of censorship Brian Herzog writes: “I work in the library in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which is next door to the city of Lowell, the birthplace of Jack Kerouac. As a result, we try to maintain a good Jack Kerouac collection, but one specific book in our collection is particularly special. The book is The Portable Jack Kerouac, donated to the library in 1995 by the grandson of long-time Chelmsford Librarian Edith Pickles (right). Just this week a coworker showed me this book—the story Edith’s grandson recounts in the inscription is just stunning.”... Swiss Army Librarian, Oct. 27

What Wikipedia deletes, and why For the past year, a University of Pennsylvania research team has been mining Wikipedia content to learn what the online encyclopedia’s administrators have been considering too “dangerous” to leave online. In 2010, redactions accounted for more than 56,000 of the 47.1 million revisions, according to the research team. In May 2010, Wikipedia’s leaders gave approximately 40 people the ability to permanently delete text, including entries in the history pages; now more than 1,800 people have that ability.... Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, Oct. 26

Census of federal libraries Profiles of U.S. federal libraries from around the world are now available online. Presented dynamically with an interactive mapping tool (only viewable on Firefox), the Federal Library Directory displays geographic and collections data from more than 1,000 libraries. This publicly available dataset, sponsored by the Federal Library and Information Center Committee, identifies members of the federal library and information center community and offers current information on their locations, collections, services, and specialties.... Library of Congress, Oct. 28

Postal history at the Post Office David Straight writes: “The United States Postal Service provides a wealth of resources, reaching back to its roots in colonial America, for those interested in its history. Last summer the Historian’s Office redesigned its postal history website. The photo gallery displays a small fraction of the pictures held in the Post Office collection, and postmaster finder is one of the most valuable resources.”... Philatelic Literature and Research, Oct. 30

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Future format: Goals and measures Karen Coyle writes: “The LC report on the future bibliographic format (aka replacement for MARC) (PDF file) is out. It is short and has few specifics, other than the selection of RDA as the underlying data format. A significant part of the report lists requirements; these, too, are general in nature and may not be comprehensive. What needs to be done before we go much further is to begin to state our specific goals and the criteria we will use to determine if we have met those goals.”... Coyle’s InFormation, Nov. 1; Library of Congress, Oct. 31

Describing and measuring the value of public libraries Paul T. Jaeger, et al., write: “Public libraries find themselves in the position of defending and justifying their funding and continued existence to their stakeholders. Many of these public libraries seek to prove their worth to their community through the use of different measurements and metrics to demonstrate quantifiable contributions and different understandings of the concept of value as part of showing a contribution. This paper discusses the implications of value demonstration approaches for libraries in social and policy contexts.”... First Monday 16, no. 11 (Nov. 7)

How to tell if they really love your library Steven Bell writes: “This is a profession that promotes the idea of loving a library. If you need some evidence, just visit ILoveLibraries.org. But what does it really mean to love a library or any other inanimate object? There is a study that attempts to answer this question. It’s a report titled ‘Shoes, Cars and Other Love Stories’ and it’s actually a dissertation in the field of industrial design by Beatriz Russo.”... Designing Better Libraries, Oct. 30

12 ways to create quizzes and tests for free Julie Greller writes: “With budgets being cut left and right, teachers are trying to find ways to administer quizzes and tests without exceeding their copy limit at school. (A ream of paper for the entire year?) I’ll admit that it’s hard to find a lot of truly free programs online that offer grading and statistics. My list also includes a survey app which can also be used for small quizzes.”... A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet, Oct. 28

Best state genealogy websites, 2011 Rick Crume writes: “Some of the most useful records for genealogists are kept at the state level. In selecting this year’s best state websites for genealogy, we were on the lookout for databases where you can look for a relative’s name. Many of the 75 sites (at least one per state) have indexes, and in many cases, you can even view images of original records. We salute the efforts of these state archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies—and even a few ambitious individuals—for making genealogical and historical information available online.”... http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Family Tree Magazine, Oct. 19

Public libraries and Baby Boomers Suzanne Flint writes: “Recognizing that many current adult and senior library services do not reflect the character or interests of today’s Boomer generation, the ‘IMLS Western Regional Fellowship: Transforming Life After 50’ helped to effectively position public libraries as a resource that can help adults (ages 50+) remain vital and contributing members of their communities. The Fellowship has concluded and the entire curriculum —including two webinars, podcasts of the major speakers, and materials from six online courses—is archived and available free to anyone on the TLA50 website.”... UpNext: The IMLS Blog, Oct. 28

U.S. Copyright Office outlines its priorities Andrew Albanese writes: “Orphan works, preservation for libraries, mass digitization, and fighting digital piracy are among the priorities set by the Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante in an October 25 paper (PDF file) outlining the U.S. Copyright Office’s ‘priorities and special projects’ for the next two years. In all, the paper articulates 17 priorities in the areas of copyright policy and administrative practice, and 10 ‘new projects’ designed to ‘improve the quality and efficiency’ of the U.S. Copyright Office’s services in the 21st century.”... Publishers Weekly, Oct. 26

Writing in the library Amanda Ellington writes: “The practice of writing involves the recognition of shapes and letters as well as small motor coordination and then the combination of the two. When trying to incorporate writing in your children’s space, think of activities that will develop small motor coordination and shape and letter recognition. I am listing a few that I have included in the children’s room at the Lexington Park (Md.) Library, where I work, as well as some I have seen in other spaces.”... ALSC Blog, Oct. 28

Google Street View goes indoors and to the park Google is taking its Street View mapping service indoors. In May, Google announced plans for 360-degree Business Photos, a program that would send Google photographers to various businesses to snap professional photos for their Places Page. Atlantic Wire pointed to a comic book store (above) in Tustin, California, that has interior Street View activated. And on October 31, Google began enhancing Street View with images of parks from 22 different countries.... PC Magazine, Oct. 28; Atlantic Wire, Oct. 26; Google Lat Long Blog, Oct. 31

The creepy librarian stalker hypothesis Sarah Houghton writes: “There is a bit of a pestilence on female public figures, including those of us in the library world. Certain men, and on occasion women, behave rather inappropriately toward us. For

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

years I thought it was something that only I was experiencing. Then I started talking with my female colleagues—others who speak, write, or are otherwise in the bibliosphere’s public eye. I have been surprised to learn how many women experience this inappropriate craziness from fellow librarians.”... Librarian in Black, Oct. 31

National Library of Uzbekistan Robert Newlen writes: “The Uzbekistan government has recently invested significant resources in improving library services, which includes the construction of a new National Library of Uzbekistan. On a recent business trip to Tashkent (the capital), I had the opportunity to visit the construction site of the new library where I took this picture. The official opening is scheduled for November.”... In Custodia Legis, Oct. 28

Some YouTube Insights David Lee King writes: “I was poking around in my library’s YouTube account—generally tidying up the place and adding some info to video descriptions. While doing that, I started looking at our YouTube Insights (that’s what YouTube calls statistics or analytics), and discovered some neat stuff. And I thought I’d share.”... David Lee King, Oct. 27

Top 5 Google Plus annoyances Ed Swiderski writes: “After using Google Plus for a couple of months, I’m actually a big fan. But I have mixed feelings about it. I’m a huge fan of the innate viral capabilities, however, there are still some things that need to be ironed out.”... ChicagoNow: Ed or Alive, Oct. 19

The freshman research paper Meredith Farkas writes: “I understand perfectly that faculty want their first-year students to find quality resources and they want their students to have an understanding of scholarly communication. But is the best way to do that forcing them to find scholarly articles for a research paper? That requires so many different skills that many of these students don’t have yet. Research is painful. Scholarly articles are impossible to read. The first year should be about getting students excited about participating in research and contributing to the scholarly conversation.”... Information Wants to Be Free, Oct. 27

Online Royal Society journal archive now free The Royal Society has announced that its world-famous historical journal archive— which includes the first-ever peer- reviewed scientific journal—has been made permanently free to access online. Around 60,000 historical scientific papers are accessible via a fully searchable online archive, with papers published more than 70 years ago now becoming freely available. The Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific publisher, with the first edition of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society appearing in 1665.... Royal Society, Oct. 26

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

Livingstone’s diary digitized and made legible In Africa in 1871, explorer David Livingstone met New York Herald reporter Henry M. Stanley and gave him a harrowing account of a massacre he witnessed, in which slave traders slaughtered 400 innocent people. Stanley’s press reports prompted the British government to close the East African slave trade. An international team of scholars and scientists led an 18-month project to recover Livingstone’s original account of the massacre. The story, found in a diary that was illegible until it was restored with advanced digital imaging, offers a unique insight into his mind. The diary is now online through the UCLA Digital Library Program.... UCLA Newsroom, Nov. 1

Shakespeare, Bacon, and modern cryptography Laura Massey writes: “Currently reigniting the Shakespeare authorship controversy is Roland Emmerich’s new movie Anonymous, which posits that the Earl of Oxford wrote Shakespeare’s plays. With academics and bibliophiles of all types understandably up-in-arms in response, this 150- year-old battle seems a no-win situation. But there is a silver lining. In a fascinating and little-known byway of history, the authorship controversy led directly to some of the most important 20th-century advances in a seemingly unrelated field: cryptography.”... The Cataloguer’s Desk, Oct. 24

Study on game transfer phenomena Over the course of many years, a debate has raged on as to what direct effects video games have on those who play them. According to a study published in the third issue of the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology, and Learning, gamers can experience an integration of video-game elements into their everyday lives, whether through intentional or automatic response, thanks to an analysis of behavior called game transfer phenomena (GTP). The findings also demonstrated how video games sometimes trigger intrusive thoughts, sensations, impulses, reflexes, optical illusions, and dissociations.... IGI Global Blog, Oct. 31

Anchorage Public Library video The staff of the Anchorage (Alaska) Public Library put together this excellent promotional video (3:30) that showcases their facility, collections, and services to a diverse population. They had the help of Ice Cap Productions and Sugarsled Creative, as well as local residents and a library architect.... YouTube, Oct. 21

Haunted library screamfest The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Special Collections Library at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, put on a Haunted Library Screamfest “eeeks”- http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 2, 2011

ibit and open house October 31. The event was free to both the living and the dead, and featured 13 items from the collection, including letters to Duke University’s Parapsychology Laboratory, Halloween postcards, Bela Lugosi’s signature, and a box of 49 glass eyeballs (right).... The Devil’s Tale, Oct. 25

The continuing mystery of the Scottish book sculptures The mysterious book sculptures that started turning up at libraries and other cultural venues in Edinburgh, Scotland, last spring are still making an appearance. Now Garry Gale, director of the city’s Music Library, said when he saw the sculptures he realized they looked exactly like a paper sculpture he had bought a year or so earlier from a certain artist that he didn’t name, but the styles were so unerringly similar it had to be the same artist. But apparently most people would prefer to keep the mystery going.... National Public Radio: Krulwich Wonders, Oct. 31

The Two Ronnies debate book classification Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett debate the merits of having books shelf-arranged by color in this sketch (3:28), “The Confusing Library,” from Season 10 (1983– 1984) of The Two Ronnies, a popular British show from BBC1. “You don’t classify books by the color?” “Oh yes, it’s the architect’s idea; he said it looked neater.”... YouTube, July 31

Go back to the Top

Sign up to receive AL Direct every Wednesday here. American Libraries Magazine, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110211-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:04 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Dallas Update Division News Awards & Grants Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | November 9, 2011 Books & Reading Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar

American Libraries Online

Amazon’s library model: Can we learn from it? Christopher Harris writes: “A lot of library and ebook pundits (all five of us?) have been talking about it, but Amazon finally Help choose the color of launched its Kindle Owner’s Lending the ALA Midwinter Library. Amazon has been working to find Meeting t-shirt. More more ways to add value to its Prime than 100 people voted to program, such as the inclusion of streaming movies and TV shows. select the color of ALA’s The Kindle Fire page spends much more time talking about the Annual 2011 Conference streaming media from Prime than it does the books. While this is t-shirt, and it sold out interesting to look at, the real question, of course, is what impact will quickly. this have on our libraries?”... AL: E-Content, Nov. 4

Placing adult literacy front and center Dale Lipschultz and Miguel Figueroa write: “The groundbreaking first U.S. Conference on Adult Literacy was held November 2–5 in Houston, Texas. Sponsored by ProLiteracy, the conference brought together adult learners, literacy providers, educators, and librarians to discuss the challenges and Check back on November opportunities facing the adult literacy field in the 21st century. The 15 to see the winning opening general session introduced the new ‘Stand for Literacy’ color and remember to campaign, an opportunity for adult learners and librarians to share come early to claim yours their personal literacy stories.”... at the ALA Store. AL: Inside Scoop, Nov. 9

Egypt’s cultural center seeks its path amid turmoil The January 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak may be over, but the Bibliotheca Alexandrina—Egypt’s nearly 10-year-old center for culture and scholarship (above)—has seen some recent upheaval. The library’s director, Ismail Serageldin, has come under attack, and

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

many members of his staff and others are demanding his resignation. Sohair Wastawy, former director of the BA, says the accusations are unjustified. Wastawy spoke with American Libraries Associate Editor Sanhita SinhaRoy on November 3.... AL: Global Reach, Nov. 9

Serving players through selection Erik Bobilin and Nicole Pagowsky write: “While libraries are learning the value of gaming, there is not currently a great deal of information available discussing standards for video game collection development, and few libraries with game collections have published their policies. To help out, Team G (above) of the 2011 class of ALA Emerging Leaders worked to study and establish best practices for video game collection development in libraries.”... American Libraries feature

Summer reading levels up Greg Landgraf writes: “Like many libraries, Canton (Mich.) Public Library has traditionally operated a summer reading program to encourage children to keep reading through the summer months when they aren’t facing regular class assignments. But the library had two significant issues with the program. One was budgetary. The second issue was effectiveness. The library was concerned that simply offering a reward for kids to read does not help them develop into lifelong readers.” Ann Arbor District Library also created a summer game, shown in this video (2:28).... American Libraries feature; YouTube, Nov. 3

Preserving bits Greg Landgraf writes: “As video games gain influence in our culture, the need to preserve them for future study gains importance as well. Richard Pugh of the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus for Audio- Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia, is working to build a video game archive. The project, currently dubbed the Video Game Collection, acquires every game that comes to LC through copyright registration, which Pugh estimates at about 10% of the games published each year.”... American Libraries feature

Helping warriors unleash the power of the pen Amy Hartman and Holly Baumgartner write: “The best pleasures in life are often unexpected, and we have been lucky enough to be ambushed by a program that has become one of the most extraordinarily http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

rewarding experiences of our careers. The Sylvania branch of the Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library and Lourdes College of Sylvania cosponsored the Veterans’ Writing Workshop in 2010. We crafted a variety of thought-provoking writing and reading exercises intended to encourage all veterans to write about their experiences for their own benefit or to share them with friends and family.”... American Libraries feature

2012 Library Design Showcase: Call for submissions American Libraries is now accepting submissions for the 2012 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating the best new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types. Like last year, the showcase will be primarily published online, with excerpts published in the March/April 2012 issue and in American Libraries’ Spring Digital Supplement. Submit photos and a form (PDF file) to the AL office by January 13.... AL: Inside Scoop, Nov. 8

Currents Carla M. Connolly (right), 59, a librarian at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois, for 22 years, passed away November 6; her nephew, David M. Connolly, is a longtime staff member of ALA and ACRL. Daniel Jones will retire January 6 as director of Northrup Library at Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio. On October 17, Richard Reyes-Gavilan was named director and chief librarian of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library.... American Libraries column ALA News

Rich Harwood at the ALA President’s Program Rich Harwood (right), described as “one of the great thinkers in American public life,” is the featured speaker in ALA President Molly Raphael’s President’s Program at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas on January 22. Over the past 20 years, Harwood has become a leading national authority on improving America’s communities, raising standards of political conduct and re-engaging citizens on today’s most complex and controversial public issues.... ALA Conference Services, Nov. 8

Occupy Wall Street librarians to speak at Midwinter The new ALA Masters Series kicks off at ALA Midwinter with an exciting special session led by three of the People’s Library builders. “A Library Occupies Occupy Wall Street” is a Special Masters session on January 21, where attendees will learn firsthand from the librarians on the front lines of Occupy Wall Street. Betsy Fagin and Mandy Henk (above) and Zachary Loeb will share their experiences in building the People’s

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Library and being part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.... ALA Conference Services, Nov. 8

2012 Emerging Leader participants announced The participants for the 2012 class of ALA Emerging Leaders have been selected. Seventy-seven individuals (PDF file) were chosen to participate in this year’s program. The program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project- planning workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers.... Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Nov. 7

Have fun on National Gaming Day, November 12 Got the urge to yell out “Uno!” or showcase your Nintendo Wii prowess? Head to your local library. On November 12, more than 20,000 people are expected to come together for the ALA’s Fourth Annual National Gaming Day. Libraries will take part in the event by hosting get-togethers for kids and families to meet and play classic board games such as Connect Four and Scrabble or dabble in an international Super Smash Bros. Brawl video game tournament. Watch the Palatine (Ill.) Public Library NGD video (1:06).... Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.), Nov. 4; Campaign for America’s Libraries, Nov. 4; YouTube, Nov. 3

Forum on rural library advocacy Check out these mini- Join rural library leaders in a conversation about advocacy, leadership, video demos that and the newly revised Small But Powerful Guide to Winning Big show you how the Support for Your Rural Library, at a special forum during the 2012 revamped Booklist ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas on January 22. Sponsored by three Online makes ALA committees and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, the collection development session will employ the World Café method of hosting large-group and readers’ advisory dialogue.... a little less work and a Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Nov. 8 lot more fun. NEW! From Booklist. Public library survey extended to November 18 Study managers have extended the participation deadline for the 2011–2012 Public Library Funding and Technology New this week Access Study online survey to November 18. Funded by the Bill and in American Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, the survey provides an important Libraries opportunity for libraries to share information regarding computer and internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

training, and other uses of public libraries, such as providing public access technology centers in their communities.... Office for Research and Statistics, Nov. 7

OITP appoints its first research associate Alan Inouye writes: “In 2007, the Office for Information Technology Policy established the OITP Fellows program, where distinguished scholars and practitioners can work on varied aspects of the OITP portfolio. Now Games in Libraries we are establishing the OITP Research Associates program in the same spirit but for early career Helping Warriors professionals with a serious interest in national public policy. Jessie Mannisto (right) will serve as the first OITP Research Interview: Sohair Associate with a term extending through August 2012.”... District Dispatch, Nov. 8 Wastawy

100 Days for Haiti E-Content Since the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, ALA has been committed to Censorship Watch helping rebuild libraries on the island. Deborah Lazar, librarian at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, has pledged to match any gift Currents to the ALA Haiti Library Relief Fund (up to a maximum of $5,000) from now through January 2012. You can make a qualifying donation Perpetual Beta on the ALA website now, or send your contribution to the ALA International Relations Office.... International Relations Office Inside Scoop

Be a great boss Ask the ALA Librarian ALA Editions has launched a new workshop, “Be a Great Boss: The Kickoff to Your Year of Learning” with Cathy Solutions and Hakala-Ausperk. This four-part workshop (January 5– Services March 22) complements Hakala-Ausperk’s book Be a Great Boss. Your purchase includes the ebook, featuring AL Focus the complete text of the print edition in PDF format. Following the month-by-month organization of the book, the workshop will show you how to cultivate an attitude that instills confidence and develop a staff you can depend on.... ALA Editions, Nov. 9 Great Libraries of the World How to build library websites using WordPress A six-week facilitated eCourse called “Using WordPress to Build Library Websites” begins January 16. The course will teach the nuts and bolts of building a library website that is both user friendly and easy to maintain. Amanda Goodman and Polly- Alida Farrington will serve as instructors. Participants will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio, and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.... ALA Editions, Nov. 9 National Assembly Library, Palais Bourbon, Paris, France. Established in 1796 in a hall of the National Assembly and remodeled by Jules de Joly in 1826, the

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

library can be seen by prior appointment even when the Assembly is sitting. Its 22 ceiling paintings Featured review: Adult crime depicting the history of fiction civilization were the work of artist Eugène Connelly, Michael. The Drop. Nov. 2011. Delacroix in 1838– 416p. Little, Brown, hardcover (978-0-316- 1845. The library 06941-0). contains more than Harry Bosch, who’s been given three years 350,000 volumes, as until he must retire, is yet again deep in well as the original “high jingo,” the LAPD’s special version of records of the trial of power politics, in which a combination of Joan of Arc and the cover-up, corruption, and “the good of the Aztec Codex department” gets in the way of justice. This Borbonicus. In 2009, it time, the jingo is tied to the apparent suicide of George signed a partnership Irving, son of Bosch’s longtime nemesis, former cop Irvin agreement with the Irving, now a city councilman. Why does Irving handpick his Bibliothèque nationale enemy, Bosch, to take the case? The ploys and counterploys de France to digitize run deep.... some of its rare manuscripts, including Valuing paperbacks a copy of Le Roman de Joyce Saricks writes: “I’ve la Rose and an always advocated cataloging autograph copy of paperbacks and adding them to Jean-Jacques the collection, shelving them right alongside the hardcovers. Rousseau’s Julie, or Paperbacks have a long history of being undervalued. Perhaps the New Heloise. their reputation goes back to the whole idea of pulp fiction— low-quality paper and binding for low-quality prose. Popular, perhaps, but not good enough to appear in hardcover.”...

@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more....

Dallas Update Salle de La Chapelle, Municipal Library, Alençon, France. Culture, class, and a new kind Housed in a former of cowboy 17th-century Jesuit Arts, architecture, and a bit of French church, the city’s rare- flair put a cultural spin on this iconic books collection Texas city, as this video (3:16) by consists of 723 TravelTex points out. On the right is the manuscripts, at least Pioneer Plaza cattle drive sculpture 125 of them from the commemorating the 19th-century Middle Ages, and longhorn cattle drives that took place along the Shawnee Trail. The 70 57,000 rare books bronze steers and three trail riders were created by artist Robert dealing with the Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. Each steer is larger than life at six history and culture of feet high, and the sculpture is said to be the largest bronze Normandy. monument of its kind in the world.... TravelTex, July 14, 2010; Wikipedia This AL Direct feature showcases 250 libraries All about DART around the world that are Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) gets you notable for their exquisite architecture, historic around Dallas and 12 surrounding cities with collections, and innovative modern public transit services. The DART services. If you find yourself

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Red and Blue Lines stop at ground level at on vacation near one of the Convention Center Station under Exhibit them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be Halls E and F. Trains run every 5 minutes available in The Whole during peak (rush) hours and every 10 minutes during off-peak Library Handbook 5, edited hours. The cost is $1.75 one way or $4 for a day pass.... by George M. Eberhart, which Dallas Area Rapid Transit is scheduled for publication in 2013 by ALA Editions. A boarding pass on your screen Susan Stellin writes: “With a growing number of travelers carrying smartphones, the era of paperless boarding may have finally arrived. I recently tried a mobile boarding pass for the first time on a Delta flight out of LaGuardia Airport and had no problems checking in or getting through security and onto the plane. But it’s not yet a foolproof way to travel, so here are some things I learned from my test drive, as well as feedback from fliers who have used e-boarding passes many times.”... New York Times, Nov. 2

Airline Wi-Fi check Brett Snyder writes: “It took ages, but United has finally made a decision on putting Wi-Fi on its fleet. Instead of just doing the domestic fleet, it’s going global. Now, almost every U.S. airline has plans for Wi-Fi with at least one of the various providers out there. Here’s a look at how they stack up.”... Condé Nast Traveler: Daily Traveler, Nov. 7 Career Leads from Division News

Submit proposals for ACRL 2013 Director of Library ACRL invites proposal submissions for the Services, The Citadel, ACRL 2013 Conference to be held April 10– Charleston, South 13, 2013, in Indianapolis. Contributed paper, Carolina. The Director panel session, preconference, and workshop proposals are due May of Library Services is 11, 2012. Cyber Zed Shed presentation, poster session, roundtable the chief academic and discussion, and Virtual Conference Webcast proposals are due administrative officer of November 9, 2012. Submit proposals via the online form.... ACRL Insider, Nov. 8 the Daniel Library, including the Citadel Become a LLAMA mentor or mentee Archives and Museum, and the Friends of the The LLAMA Mentoring Committee has begun recruiting mentors and Daniel Library mentees for the July 2012–June 2013 year. The mentoring program organization. Holding pairs librarians who are currently in leadership positions with librarians faculty rank and who are interested in becoming leaders. The deadline to apply for reporting to the mentors and mentees is December 16.... LLAMA, Nov. 8 provost, the director participates in college Refresh your customer service skills governance as a member of the Deans’ On November 30, PLA will host a live, hourlong webinar, “Fully Council, Academic Engaged Customer Service at Your Library,” as part of its “Public Board, and Graduate Libraries at Work” monthly webinar series. Participants will learn a Council.... fresh approach to customer service and discover ways to reduce work stress by enacting techniques to connect with patrons and respond to their needs in an efficient and positive manner. The registration deadline is November 28....

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

PLA, Nov. 8

AASL Pre-Midwinter Institute AASL encourages school librarians to attend the AASL Pre-Midwinter Institute, “Tools for Transforming Your School Library Program,” taking place January 20 prior to the ALA 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. Attendees will learn how to collect and use data to drive their @ More jobs... program’s improvement. To register, visit the AASL website.... AASL, Nov. 8 Digital Library New ASCLA Youth Services Consultants interest group of the Week The Youth Services Consultants Interest Group, a new group hosted by ASCLA, is now online and accepting new members. Youth services consultants and any state library staff member who works with youth services on a statewide level are encouraged to join this member- driven group. To join, log in to ALA Connect, access the group’s ALA Connect page, then click “Join.”... ASCLA, Nov. 8

Go back to the Top

The Nantucket (Mass.) Awards & Grants Historical Association Research Library’s Historic Photograph RUSA achievement awards and travel grants Collections are the There’s a little more than a month left to nominate yourself or most complete visual someone else for one of the many achievement awards and record of the history of conference travel grants offered by RUSA. The deadline for all Nantucket Island in nominations is December 15, with the exception of the BRASS Gale existence and consist Cengage Learning Student Travel Award, which has a deadline of of more than 50,000 January 31.... images. Several RUSA, Nov. 8 thousand have now been scanned and STARS/Atlas Systems Mentoring travel grant individually cataloged The STARS/Atlas Systems Mentoring travel grant is now offered in the into a database that is amount of $1,250, thanks to an increase in funding from award searchable online. sponsor Atlas Systems. The grant is presented annually to a library practitioner who is new to the field of interlibrary loan, document Do you know of a digital delivery, or electronic reserves and provides support for travel library collection that we can expenses associated with attending the ALA Annual Conference. The mention in this AL Direct feature? Tell us about it. deadline for nominations (PDF file) is December 15.... Browse previous Digital RUSA, Nov. 7 Libraries of the Week at the I Love Libraries site. 2012 ASCLA awards The 2012 awards offered by ASCLA are an excellent chance to recognize colleagues, institutions, or particular programs for their contributions to the division and the areas of librarianship in which they serve. The nomination deadline is December 15. Download the appropriate award nomination form from the awards section of the ASCLA website.... ASCLA, Nov. 8

Need funding for Annual Conference 2012? Take advantage of two grants made available through the New Members Round Table: the 3M NMRT Professional Development Grant, Public and the Shirley Olofson Memorial Award. Applications for these two grants are due December 16 and December 12, respectively. Perception http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

How the World Applicants must be members of NMRT.... NMRT Notes, Nov. 1 Sees Us

EBSCO offers travel grants to ALA Annual “When that old robber baron Andrew Conference Carnegie decided to ALA and EBSCO are partnering to offer seven scholarships for plow his ill-gotten librarians to attend the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, gains into building California, June 21–26. Each EBSCO scholarship will be in the amount this library system of $1,000 for conference registration, travel and expenses. The ‘for the people,’ he deadline to apply is December 1.... had to have believed Office of ALA Governance, Nov. 3 we would realize its value and support it Science Kits for Public Libraries in the years to grants come.... The Institute of Electrical and Electronics “Stately old Engineers Chicago Section is accepting buildings are applications for the IEEE Science Kits for expensive to heat, Public Libraries Grant. The grant will provide cool, modernize, and funding to more than 20 public libraries in maintain. The the Midwest for the development of math information age has and science collections for K–12 students through the creation of necessitated more science kits—especially kits that provide prepared experiments for use and more computers, by students, educators, and librarians. The application deadline is e-readers, and other December 15. Watch the Mount Prospect (Ill.) Public Library video technology, all of it (4:24) to see the kits in action.... essential for people Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Chicago Section, Nov. 4; YouTube, Nov. 1, who don’t have it at 2010 home, especially children whose OCLC recognized for workplace practices future depends on OCLC has been honored with the 2011 Alfred P. Sloan Award for multi-platform Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for its use of flexibility as literacy. an effective workplace strategy to increase business and employee “The library success. The award, part of the national When Work Works project, leadership has done recognizes employers of all sizes and types across the United States. a fine job of raising When Work Works is a national project to educate the business capital funds and community on the value of workplace flexibility, such as flextime.... using them to their OCLC, Nov. 4 best advantage. The result is a growing The 90-second Newbery Film list of library Festival: New York redesigns, each one Betsy Bird writes: “Kids from around the a jewel of form and world (yes, world) filmed 90-second or function.... so versions of various Newbery Award “Rejecting this and Honor books. They sent these videos small levy because it to YA author James Kennedy (of The should have been Order of Odd-Fish) and he collected, more widespread curated, organized, tightened, and generally got them into working would be like order. Kennedy received more than 100 entries, so those were culled rejecting a down to a select few that he is showing in three theatrical showings. diphtheria Here in New York, our film festival on November 5 was the first and vaccination because played in the main branch of the library system.”... it doesn’t cover School Library Journal: A Fuse #8 Production, Nov. 7; YouTube, Oct. 13 measles. The money won’t do everything, Business Book of the Year 2011 but it will do Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to something, and that Fight Global Poverty (PublicAffairs) is the 2011 something is well Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of worth doing.” the Year. Abhijit Banerjee received the £30,000 ($48,290 U.S.) award on behalf of his coauthor Esther —Staff writer Sally Kalson, in Duflo at a dinner in London on November 3. The an editorial favoring a tax http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

authors use randomized control trials of the type used levy for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, “Small Library to assess new drugs to study the behavior of poor Tax, Big Returns,” Pittsburgh people and the best ways to alleviate poverty.... Post-Gazette, Nov. 6. San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 4

2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prizes @ More quotes... The Roald Dahl Funny Prize celebrates the best in funny literature for children in memory of one of the most inventive and humorous children’s authors. This year the two winners who had the judges clutching their sides were Cats Ahoy! by Peter Bently in the 6 years and under category, and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon in the 7–14 age group. The winner in each category wins £2,500 ($4,025 U.S.). Win a Book: Vote for Your For the first time this year, more than 400 school pupils took part in Favorite Gangster Movie the voting process.... Yahoo! Lifestyle UK, Nov. 8

2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize Esi Edugyan was named the 2011 winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize on November 8 for her novel Half-Blood Blues (Thomas Allen), about jazz musicians in World War II Paris. The largest annual literary award in Canada, the prize awards $50,000 to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection Express Yourself by Rebecca published in English. The shortlist was chosen from an Walden unprecedented 143 books submitted for consideration Connect with your kids: by 55 publishing houses.... Family Game Night @ your Scotiabook Giller Prize, Nov. 8 library

2011 Galaxy National Book Awards Unanimous Vote of Jackie Collins picked up the outstanding achievement Congress Honors First African-American Marines prize at the 2011 Galaxy National Book Awards, announced in London November 4. Collins’s 28 novels Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: have never been out of print and are all international Meet the New Beatles bestsellers. Her most recent novel, Goddess of Exhibit Vengeance, debuted at the top of the UK Sunday Great Songs and the Artists Times bestseller list in April. Dawn French won the Who Created Them: 'Viva award for fiction for A Tiny Bit Marvellous (Penguin), Las Vegas' while Caitlin Moran won the nonfiction prize for How to Be a Woman 'The Weird Sisters' Author (Ebury).... Eleanor Brown Shares Her BBC News, Nov. 4 Thoughts About Libraries (video) UK Information Book Awards 2011 The winners of the first UK School Library Libraries Open Their Doors to Gamers on National Association Information Book Awards were Gaming Day @ your library announced in London on November 2. The awards celebrate information books, the importance of nonfiction materials for children and young adults, Join Us on Facebook and the high standard of resources available. The overall winners were Adrian Dingle’s How to Make a Subscribe to our Universe with 92 Ingredients (Scholastic) and Newsletter Kristen McDermott and Ari Berk’s The Life and Times of William

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Shakespeare (Templar).... School Library Association Blog, Nov. 2

Prix Goncourt goes to high school teacher France’s highest literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, was awarded November 3 to Alexis Jenni for his novel L’Art Français de la Guerre (The French Art of War). Jenni is a first-time novelist who teaches high school biology. Despite its prestige, the Prix Goncourt comes with just a token financial reward—about $13. Yet the attention it brings often means a significant increase in book sales for the winner. Jenni’s 600-page novel is a journey through France’s military history in Indochina, Algeria, and at home.... Los Angeles Times: Jacket Copy, Nov. 3 Seen Online TweetWatch Follow:

Occupy D.C.’s “People’s Library” Streaming Media West, The Occupy D.C. library has become a hub of Los Angeles, Nov. 8–9, information—and novels—for Washington at: protesters. The library recently expanded to a #smwest larger tent to accommodate a continuing influx of donations, which includes an edition of French Association for Women Don’t Get Fat and one man’s donated Educational comic book collection. Volunteers now estimate Communications and the collection holds more than 1,000 volumes. Technology, Known as the “People’s Library,” it has no library International cards, closing time, late fees, or even a requirement to return the Convention, books. Similar libraries have sprung up at other Occupy protests, Jacksonville, Florida, including New York and London.... Nov. 8–12, at: Wall Street Journal, Nov. 4 #aect2011

Special tax for Pittsburgh’s Berlin 9 Open Access Carnegie Library passes Conference, By a margin of more than two to one, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh voters November 8 approved a binding referendum to add Nov. 9–10, at: 0.25 mills to the tax on all real estate in the city, and steer the #berlin9 proceeds to the fiscally challenged Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The new revenue, as much as $3 million annually, will play a large part Life and Literature (PDF file) in allowing the library to continue providing neighborhood- Conference, Chicago, based services to city residents, including early learning programs for Nov. 14–15, at: children and families, job search assistance, and computer and #lifelit internet access.... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 8; Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Nov. 8 2011 Global Education Conference, online, Chicago mayor’s library cuts face city council vote Nov. 14–18, at: November 16 #globaled11 Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s $6.3-billion budget cleared its first legislative hurdle November 7 when the Chicago city council’s budget committee California Library approved the spending plan hours after the finance committee Association / California advanced the revenue package. That sets the stage for a full council School Library vote on November 16. Although Emanuel restored $3.3 million from Association, Annual the initial $8.6 million in proposed cuts, the measure would still Conference and eliminate almost 20% of Chicago Public Library staff, restrict hours of Exposition, Pasadena, operation, and cut several areas of programming, including those Nov. 11–13, at: geared toward children and computer literacy.... #calibconf

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Chicago Sun-Times, Nov. 7 Indiana Library Chicago’s library of the future Federation, Annual Jaywon Choe writes: “The University of Conference, Fort Chicago’s new Joe and Rika Mansueto Wayne, Nov. 14–16, Library is a futuristic bubble of a building at: with nary a stack in site. Many of its #ilf11 nearly one million items—special collections, journals, dissertations, Institute for documents—can be accessed online. While many academic libraries Operations Research are digitizing and moving holdings off site, Manseuto is the largest and the Management and latest to add automated storage and retrieval systems.” The Sciences, Annual Museum of Science and Industry’s Kevin Byrne got a behind-the- Meeting, Charlotte, scenes look at the Mansueto recently. Watch the video (2:38).... North Carolina, Nov. New York Times, Nov. 4; Month at the Museum 2, Nov. 3; YouTube, Nov. 3 13–16, at: #informs2011 Book challenge at Blue Springs Parents of a child in the Blue Springs (Mo.) School All About Mobile District have objected to a book they say is riddled Conference, San with obscenities. Hold Still by Nina LaCour was pulled Francisco, Nov. 15, at: in October from a school library as the district #allmob reconsiders whether it is appropriate for student reading. Now the ACLU is threatening to get involved if Museum Computer the school district caves in to pressure. Parent Network, Annual Christina Brown said the book is “extremely Conference, Atlanta, inappropriate” for public school because it describes Nov. 16–19, at: explicit sexual relationships.... #mcn2011 KCTV, Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 8 ALA Midwinter Indiana libraries closing doors, Meeting, Dallas, Jan. cutting hours 20–24, at: Libraries in Indiana are delaying repairs, #alamw12 limiting purchases of new material, and closing their doors as they bow under the American Libraries weight of statewide property tax caps and news stories, blog declining revenue. The Johnson County and posts, tweets, and Greenwood library systems will face shortfalls of about 10% next videos, at: year. Edinburgh (right) plans to spend 5% less next year. And two amlibraries branches of the Hammond Public Library system have closed while facing a $1.2-million shortfall.... Associated Press, Nov. 5 Calendar NYPL president arrested for DWI The new president and CEO of the New York Public Library, Anthony Nov. 12: Marx, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated National Gaming Day November 6 after he sideswiped a parked vehicle with his library- @ your library. owned Audi, law-enforcement officials said. The library released a statement from Marx that said, “My focus now is on moving forward Nov. 29– and assuring that this incident does not detract from the important Dec. 1: work and goals shared by all my colleagues.” Marx succeeded former Online Information, NYPL President Paul LeClerc in July.... Conference, National Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8 Hall, Olympia, London.

Alec Baldwin Foundation donates Dec. 1–3: $250,000 to East Hampton Library Humanities, Arts, On November 1, the East Hampton (N.Y.) Sciences, and Library announced a donation of $250,000 from Technology the Alec Baldwin Foundation to assist in the Advanced construction of the library’s expanded children’s Collaboratory wing, which is expected to break ground in the spring. The donations Conference,

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

are part of the actor’s promise to donate the proceeds of his University of Michigan, commercials for Capital One Bank’s Venture Rewards card to arts and Ann Arbor. “Digital cultural organizations.... Scholarly East Hampton (N.Y.) Star, Nov. 3 Communication.”

West Hollywood’s StandUp Librarian Dec. 5–7: isn’t laughing 7th International Meredith Myers, librarian and professional Digital Curation comedian, was fired from a West Hollywood Conference, Marriott library job that she loved. Myers has an MLS, but Royal Hotel, Bristol, library jobs are scarce these days. So earlier this U.K. “Public? Private? year she devoted much of her volunteer time to Personal? Navigating fundraising for the West Hollywood branch of the Los Angeles County the Open Data Public Library and soon took a job as a library page, developing her Landscape.” comedy routine at the same time. But shortly after the Los Angeles Times interviewed her about her work, the library let her go without Dec. 5–9: explanation. Myers comments, “What I hope all of you learn from my 27th Annual story is that when bad stuff happens, it is not the end of the Computer Security performance.”... Applications Los Angeles Times, Nov. 2; StandUp Librarian blog, Nov. 6 Conference, Buena Vista Palace Hotel and Librarian’s words are binding Spa, Orlando, Florida. Steve Lopez writes: “Several years ago a young man who was majoring in philosophy and French got a part-time job in his Jan. 4–7: university library to help pay his bills. Over time, it occurred to him Hawaii International that he loved that hallowed sanctuary, surrounded each day by bound Conference on volumes of ideas and by records of our history. He knew then what he System Sciences, wanted to do with his life and went on to graduate school to study Grand Wailea, Maui. library science. Today, he’s a librarian at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, helping rebuild a collection wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. His name is Andrew, by the way, and he’s my son.”... Jan. 6: Los Angeles Times, Nov. 9 CreateGear: Enabling the Curation of Iraqis want U.S. to return stolen Saddam archives Digital Collections, Salah Nasrawi writes: “Detailed records of former Iraqi President University of North Saddam Hussein’s private deliberations with his inner circle released Carolina, Chapel Hill. by the Pentagon are raising serious questions about the right of the United States to seize Iraqi state documents and keep them under its Jan. 16–18: control even after ending its eight years of occupation. For Iraqis, the International documents and transcripts—which were part of a massive state Conference on archive that American forces captured after they invaded Iraq in 2003 Technology, —are considered a treasure and part of Iraq’s national heritage and Knowledge, and should be returned to Iraq.”... Society, University of Al-Ahram Weekly (Cairo), Nov. 3–9 California, Los Angeles.

D.C. gets $6-million settlement in Jan. 20–24: three-alarm fire case American Library Washington, D.C., will receive $6 million in a Association, settlement of its case against the general Midwinter Meeting, contractor that headed the renovation of the Dallas. Georgetown branch of the District of Columbia Public Library, severely damaged in 2007 by a Feb. 9: three-alarm blaze that investigators found was caused by a Digital Strategy, construction worker using a heat gun. The city will receive the Association of Learned settlement from the insurance carriers for Dynamic Corp. and and Professional subcontractor Two Brothers Contracting. It had initially sued Dynamic Society Publishers for $13 million in damages to the 76-year-old building. The library Seminar, London. reopened in 2010 after a $23-million restoration.... Washington Post, Nov. 4; Legal Times: BLT, Nov. 4 Feb. 10: Online Northwest, http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Joplin library lost some 1,200 Oregon State books in tornado University, Corvallis. Even though the Joplin (Mo.) Public Library building wasn’t struck by the May 22 tornado, Mar. 21–25: its collection took a big hit, said Library Information Director Jacque Gage. Between 1,200 and Architecture Summit, 1,500 library items that had been checked out New Orleans. are gone with the wind. Every section of the library lost something, and the biggest losses were to children’s Mar. 25–29: books, DVDs, and adult fiction.... American Chemical Joplin (Mo.) Globe, Nov. 2 Society, National Meeting and Wikipedia gains more academic credibility Exposition, San Diego. It was about six years ago that University of British Columbia “Chemistry of Life.” Professor Jon Beasley-Murray first noticed his students citing Wikipedia in their essays. If they were going to use Wikipedia for his class on Latin American literature, he thought, they might as well Mar. 26–27: improve some of the shoddy articles. So for the past five years, Future Perfect, students in his class have edited or contributed articles to Wikipedia Conference, Museum of as part of a class assignment. By the end of 2011, Wikipedia hopes to New Zealand Te Papa have convinced enough professors worldwide that approximately Tongarewa, Wellington. 10,000 students will be contributing to the site.... “Digital Preservation by Vancouver (B.C.) Sun, Nov. 5 Design.”

Room to Read changes lives Apr. 11–14: Nicholas D. Kristof writes: “I came here Museums and the to Vietnam on October 28 to see John Web, Conference, Wood (right) hand out his 10 millionth Sheraton Marina, San book at a library that his team founded in Diego. Cai Lei in the Mekong Delta—as hundreds of local children cheered and embraced Apr. 18–20: the books he brought as if they were the Washington Library rarest of treasures. Wood’s charity, Room Association, Annual to Read, has opened 12,000 of these libraries around the world, along Conference, Tulalip with 1,500 schools. He has opened nearly five times as many libraries Resort Casino. “One as Carnegie, even if his are mostly single-room affairs, at the Tribe: Bringing astonishing rate of six per day.”... Washington’s Libraries New York Times Sunday Review, Nov. 5 Together.”

Professors decry cuts to Apr. 18–20: Library and Archives Canada Florida Library Canada is losing out on priceless Association, Annual historial records because of funding cuts and poor management at its Conference, Wyndham Library and Archives, a national university teachers group said Orlando Resort. November 2. The Canadian Association of University Teachers “Vibrant and Vital launched its “Save Library and Archives Canada” campaign at a Florida Libraries.” Parliament Hill press conference, lashing out at what it says is LAC’s lack of interest in buying rare books and artifacts.... Ottawa (Ont.) Citizen, Nov. 3 @ More...

The Return of Mein Kampf Sarah Wildman writes: “Distributing and displaying Nazi paraphernalia is forbidden in Contact Us Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, American Libraries France, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, and Lithuania. Direct And for nearly 70 years, the German state of Bavaria, which holds the copyright for Hitler’s Mein Kampf, has fought against the book’s publication. While these restrictions may have helped limit its widespread distribution in Europe, the book is widely available, in its AL Direct is a free electronic

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

newsletter emailed every entirety, across the web. As Europe faces the end of the copyright on Wednesday to personal one of the most painful texts of the 20th century, some people now members of the American believe the best course of action is not to extend the ban but to Library Association and publish Mein Kampf with extensive annotations that explain how the subscribers. book was used and what it wrought.”... New York Times: Latitude, Nov. 4

School librarian arrested for sexual misconduct County sheriffs arrested John David Sullivan of Estill Springs, George M. Eberhart, Editor: Tennessee, November 8 in connection with multiple charges of sexual [email protected] misconduct. Sullivan was working as the librarian at Moore County High School in Lynchburg but resigned at the onset of an intense, three-week investigation. He is being held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Circuit Court on November 18.... Beverly Goldberg, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 8 Senior Editor: [email protected] Suspect in library stabbing appears in court Samuel Ampong made a brief court appearance November 5 in connection with the stabbing of another man in the Toronto Public Library branch at City Hall. Ampong was arrested November 4 after a man was stabbed inside the branch in an apparent argument over the Greg Landgraf, use of a computer terminal.... Associate Editor: CBC News, Nov. 5 [email protected]

Go back to the Top

Tech Talk Sanhita SinhaRoy, Associate Editor: [email protected] Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet Barnes & Noble announced its new $249 Nook Tablet Jennifer Henderson, on November 7 and the combination of hardware and Contributing Researcher software enhancements will instantly make it one of the most impressive Android tablets on the market To advertise in American when it begins shipping November 18. Amazon’s $199 Libraries Direct, contact: color touch-screen tablet, the Kindle Fire, is currently on preorder and ships by November 15. Until the PCMag Lab acquires both tablets for testing, here is how the hardware specs stack up. Dan Costa spent Brian Searles: enough time with the new Nook Tablet to form some [email protected] impressions. Mary Burkey notes that the tablet features a “Read and Record” ability, which allows you to record ebook text for later playback—a do-it-yourself audiobook + narration.... PC Magazine, Nov. 7; Booklist Online: Audiobooker, Nov. 7

Katie Bane: How to take better pictures on your [email protected] iPhone Jason Boog writes: “With the 99-cent Big Lens app Send feedback: on your iPhone or iPad 2, you can create more artful [email protected] photos. The app includes a customizable soft-focus feature, color filters, lenses, and other features that AL Direct FAQ: americanlibrariesmagazine enable you to create some professional-looking .org/aldirect work.” HelpMyBrand blogger Tom Martin says: “I have to say it’s just perfect for food bloggers, All links outside the ALA tourism bloggers, restaurant blogs, and home decor or real estate website are provided for blogs.”... informational purposes only. Questions about the content GalleyCat, Nov. 7 of any external site should be addressed to the How to choose an online backup service administrator of that site.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Michael Muchmore writes: “The need for online backup services such as Carbonite, Mozy, and SOS Online Sign up to receive AL Backup couldn’t be clearer. A recent survey conducted Direct every Wednesday by Wakefield Research and Carbonite showed that here. even though ‘51% of Americans have experienced a American Libraries computer crash where they lost all of their digital files, 50 E. Huron St. more than one third (39%) admit they have never Chicago, IL 60611 backed up their computers or haven’t done so in more Website than a year.’ What’s more, ‘40% of Americans feel they would never 800-545-2433, ext. 4216 be able to recover, recreate, or repurchase all of their documents and files if their personal computer crashed.’”... ISSN 1559-369X PC Magazine, Nov. 2

Those reCAPTCHA words Patrick Manning writes: “Con enthsba! Look familiar? Those confusing semi-words you retype to buy Rolling Stones tickets on Ticketmaster or sell an antique lamp on Craigslist might not read as real words, but they are. They’re actually images from the pages of books, and thanks to reCAPTCHA technology, they are a key reason Google has digitized more than 15 million books since 2004.”... Fox News, Nov. 6

Everything you always wanted to know about web tracking Dan Tynan writes: “Think web trackers aren’t following you? Think again. Just by visiting the IT World website, roughly half a dozen ad networks and web analytics companies have deposited tracking cookies on your machine. Don’t freak out, it’s not as bad as it seems. In fact, there’s an awful lot of hype, fear, and misinformation surrounding web tracking—and both sides are guilty of overstating the dangers of tracking, as well as the benefits. How much do you know about web tracking? Take the following true-false quiz to find out.”... IT World, Nov. 3

16 creative ways to make your Facebook Timeline photo Tim Ware writes: “For those with a creative bent, probably the most exciting change is the Timeline cover photo, an 851-by-315-pixel canvas that you can fill with the image of your choice. Inserted into the lower left of the Timeline cover is your profile photo. The fun is coming up with interesting and clever ways to have your cover photo and your profile photo interact. The following examples should help spark your imagination and give you some ideas of the possibilities.”... Social Media Examiner, Nov. 1

Virtual job interview Kelly Yang writes: “It used to be that if you were obnoxious, you’d have a hard time getting through a job interview. Now, things have changed. Skype, with its 170 million monthly active users, is changing the face of recruiting, and not always in a good way. Last year, I sat through 78 Skype interviews in order to successfully place seven employees. Often I have mere minutes to decide. How do you make these tough calls http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

when the connection is unstable, the audio delayed, and looking someone in the eye is impossible?”... New York Times, Nov. 3 E-Content

The Amazon Lending Library is not the apocalypse Andy Woodworth writes: “At first glance, it seems like a pretty mind-blowing announcement. But when you read between the lines, it doesn’t look quite so epic. The part that really cracks me up is the phrase, “You can borrow a new book as frequently as once a month,” in the help section. Since the only other number possible is zero times a month, I guess they have to try to sell what they have as best as they can.”... Agnostic, Maybe, Nov. 4

Could Amazon’s Lending Library end up in court? Rachel Deahl writes: “As more information has come to light about the Amazon Lending Library, the tenor in the publishing industry has shifted from puzzlement to anger. Although Amazon initially said it reached a variety of terms with publishers to include their titles, PW has learned that the overwhelming majority of titles were taken without publishers’ knowledge or consent. Some publishers are consulting their contracts and their lawyers to see what, if any, legal action can be taken.”... Publishers Weekly, Nov. 9

Amazon’s Prime Lending Library list viewable online Amazon is tempting Kindle owners to sign up for its Prime service with free ebooks. If you are wondering if there are any good ones to read, you can now peruse a list right from your PC. The internet retailer’s complete collection of Prime Lending Library books for Kindle devices is online and accessible from any web browser. Amazon’s library collection includes more than 5,300 Kindle editions that Prime members can download and read for free. (Some users report they are getting cut off after around 1,000 books.)... PC World, Nov. 6

A Kindle disconnect? Jenna Wortham writes: “I just finished reading The Marriage Plot, Jeffrey Eugenides’s latest novel. And you know what? I didn’t love it. I was surprised, because his previous works, Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides, are among my favorites. But the main difference between my experience reading those books and this one is that I read The Marriage Plot on my Kindle. Does consuming books on an e-reader shape the way our brains absorb and process what we’ve read?”... New York Times: Digital Diary, Nov. 2

State librarians ally with Internet Archive’s Open Library Michael Kelley writes: “All 50 state librarians have decided to throw their weight behind the Internet Archive’s Open Library lending program. The Chief Officers of State Library Agencies voted unanimously during a meeting held October 24–26 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Internet Archive that will essentially make the state librarian in each

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

state a point person for the lending program.”... Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Nov. 4

We don’t read that way Maura Smale writes: “I was chatting recently with a professor in my liaison department who was beginning research for a new book. Did she have everything she needed? Was there anything I should look into ordering? Yes, she said, the library was pretty well stocked with books and journals for the topic. However, many of the books she needed we only had as ebooks—for those, she would order print copies through interlibrary loan.”... ACRLog, Nov. 8

Five huge, free ebook collections Ellyssa Kroski writes: “Now that we have so many devices that enable us to read ebooks with ease, even those who were initially skeptical have now jumped on the ebook bandwagon. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, or smartphone, you will find free ebooks that are compatible with your device on these websites. Here are five ebook collections that contain more than 100,000 free ebooks.”... iLibrarian, Nov. 4

Readmill networks lonely bookworms Traditionally, reading has been a solitary activity. But two Berlin- based Swedes, David Kjelkerud and Henrik Berggren, hope to change this. They are close to launching new social software called Readmill, an intelligent bookmark for ebooks, which promises to create a social network for bookworms to share their reading habits, margin notes, and recommendations. Readmill members can create a semi-public reference list for their books, giving them the possibility of alerting friends to interesting passages for discussion.... Der Spiegel, Nov. 4

BISG report on ebook reading trends Ebook sales can be expected to continue growing as readers show increased loyalty to and satisfaction with the digital format, according to the latest Book Industry Study Group’s Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book Reading survey. Results show that nearly 50% of print book consumers who have also acquired an ebook in the past 18 months would wait up to three months for the e-version of a book from a favorite author, rather than immediately read it in print.... Book Industry Study Group, Nov. 8

The average lifespan of a web page Mike Ashenfelder writes: “What is the average lifespan of a web page? Predictably, estimates vary and vary over time. A 1997 special report in Scientific American claimed 44 days. A subsequent 2001 academic study (PDF file) in IEEE Computer suggested 75 days. More recently, in 2003, a Washington Post article indicated that the number was 100 days. Determining the average lifespan of a web page is complicated not just by the infrastructure required to analyze a representative sample of links across the web but also because we take for granted that we know what it means that a web page has died.”... The Signal: Digital Preservation, Nov. 8

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Yale Law School Library leads in open access An online access project has given Yale Law School faculty broader readership than ever before. The library added roughly 3,000 faculty-published scholarly articles, from legal journals to an open- access database, on its website over the past year —giving it the largest online repository of its kind. The effort has made Yale a leader among institutions seeking to increase the amount of academic content that is freely available to the public.... Yale Daily News, Nov. 2

Sharing cultural interfaces LC’s National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program has launched Viewshare.org, a platform for empowering curators, archivists, and librarians to provide access to the digital cultural- heritage objects they are preserving. Supporting multiple metadata upload options and featuring such data augmentation tools as geocoding and ISO 8601 date conversion, Viewshare offers a free, intuitive tool for building and sharing customized, interactive views of cultural-heritage digital collections.... The Signal: Digital Preservation, Oct. 31

Building the perfect data repository Cameron Neylon writes: “There has been a lot of talk about data repositories and data publication, but there is still a lack of tools that are both truly attractive to research scientists and provide a route to more general and effective data sharing. The research repository of choice remains a haphazard file store and the data-sharing mechanism of choice remains email. How do we bridge this gap?”... Science in the Open, Oct. 27

Go back to the Top Books & Reading

The future of reading Katherine Schulten and Shannon Doyne write: “How is the definition of ‘reading’ changing? What is the future of the book industry? What does all this mean for schools, students, and literacy rates? In 2008, the New York Times published a series called ‘The Future of Reading’ in which some of these questions were raised. Three years later, that future is evolving at such a rapid rate that stories on the topic crop up regularly in every section of the paper. In this post, we’ve collected and categorized many of those articles, and suggested ideas for classroom inquiry.” Watch the video (4:01).... New York Times: The Learning Network, Nov. 3; July 27, 2008

Are cookbooks obsolete? Julia Moskin writes: “With the boom in tablet technology, recipes have begun to travel with their users from home to the office to the market and into the kitchen. With features like embedded links, built-in timers, infographics,

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

and voice prompts, the richness of some new apps—like Baking With Dorie, from the baking expert Dorie Greenspan; Jamie Oliver’s 20-Minute Meals; and Professional Chef, the vast app released last month by the Culinary Institute of America—hint that books as kitchen tools are on the way out.”... New York Times, Nov. 8

IFLA picture book survey Take a few minutes to list the top five children’s picture book titles that you enjoy sharing with children and that represent books created and published in the United States. After the survey closes, the nominations with be ranked and submitted as the United States Top 10 list to the Libraries for Children and Young Adults Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. The aim of the survey is to create a list of picture books from around the world that have been selected and recommended by librarians.... IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Committee

Best illustrated children’s books The New York Times Book Review has announced its list of the 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011. Artwork from this year’s winners will appear in the special Children’s Book section of the Book Review’s November 13 issue. The judges (one of whom was Jeanne Lamb, coordinator of youth collections at the New York Public Library) chose from among hundreds of children’s picture books published in 2011.... New York Times: ArtsBeat, Nov. 3

Altruism in YA literature Sharon Rawlins writes: “The tradition of everyone sharing something they are grateful for on Thanksgiving made me think of some quirky YA books that have featured altruistic characters who engage in random acts of kindness or those with great feel-good endings—the kind of story where everyone pulls together at the end. Several of my favorite YA books like this came out last year, and two in particular were on the 2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults list.”... YALSA The Hub, Nov. 9

Best books on politics and campaigns In honor of the upcoming election year, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library have hunted down what they consider to be a satisfying reading list containing some compelling fiction and nonfiction titles about politics, politicians, and the political process. The list of 10 books offers a wide variety of perspectives and topics (because in San Francisco just about anything can be political).... The Readers Review, Nov. 1

The art of the novel

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

Geoff Dyer writes: “In London recently there was an exhibition of paintings by Atkinson Grimshaw. The name might not ring a bell, but his paintings will be familiar to you from the covers of Penguin English Library and Penguin Modern Classics editions from the 1970s. For me, the identification of these novels with the paintings is absolute. To reread any of them with different cover art is inconceivable. I know the paintings well enough to have absorbed the contents of the books visually, by near-synesthesia. And the title in sharply discreet Helvetica was the pristine look of modernity—sometimes modernism—itself.”... New York Times Sunday Book Review, Nov. 3

Lush illustrations from the 1949 Alice in Wonderland Maria Popova writes: “Here’s a beautiful 1949 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard—only the second version of the Lewis Carroll classic, and the first with color illustrations. The vibrant, textured artwork exudes a certain mid- century boldness that makes it as much a timeless celebration of the beloved children’s book as it is a time capsule of bygone aesthetic from the golden age of illustration and graphic design.”... Brain Pickings, Nov. 7

A brief history of time-travel literature Emily Temple writes: “On November 8, Stephen King’s newest work, 11/22/63, a novel about a man who travels back in time via a storeroom to stop the JFK assassination, hit shelves. Inspired by this newest addition to the time-travel literature genre, we got to thinking about a few of our favorite time-travel stories, and particularly about all of the different ways those fictional mortals manage to thrust themselves back and forth in space-time. These are a few of our favorites.”... Flavorwire, Nov. 9

Actions & Answers

Overdue notice: Defend our libraries Antonino D’Ambrosio writes: “Local governments across the United States—from New York City to Detroit, and from Denver to Seattle— are slashing library budgets and closing libraries. This threatens to wall off knowledge, restrict access to the internet, and shutter a valuable communal meeting place. This year, 19 states are cutting some funding for public libraries, many by more than 10%. These cuts will disproportionately punish poor and working class people.”... The Progressive, Nov.

Calculating the value of a community library’s use Brian Herzog writes: “This year while we were compiling all of my library’s FY11 statistics to report to the state, it

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

occurred to me to try something new with them. Since everything we tally up for the state report is how much each library service gets used, I thought I’d put all those totals into the Library Use Value Calculator—this then, in theory, will show how much value the entire community gets from using the library. Here’s how things broke down.”... Swiss Army Librarian, Nov. 8

New e-rate rules in effect Laura Devaney writes: “As schools get ready to apply for federal e- rate discounts for the 2012 funding year, applicants and service providers will notice some new changes to the nearly $2.3-billion annual program that helps schools and libraries acquire telecommunications services and internet infrastructure. The two biggest changes to the program are new gift enforcement rules and updates to the Children’s Internet Protection Act.”... eSchool News, Nov. 3

Five tips for e-rate success Cara Erenben writes: “With a new e-rate application season about to dawn for schools and libraries, here are five tips that can help ensure success in getting your fair share of nearly $2.3 billion in telecommunications discounts.”... eSchool News, Nov. 3

Teens, kindness, and cruelty on social network sites Fully 95% of all teens ages 12–17 are now online, and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites. A new study finds that 69% of teenagers who use social networking sites say their peers are mostly kind to one another on such sites. Still, 88% of these teens say they have witnessed people being mean and cruel to another person on the sites, and 15% report that they have been the target of mean or cruel behavior on social network sites.... Pew Internet and American Life Project, Nov. 9

Google News to link to journalists’ Google+ profiles In summer 2010, Google began an experiment with journalists and authors by placing author photos and links to their Google+ profiles next to search results. On November 2, it extended the effort, announcing it will officially roll out the producer-and-product connection to its news platform. “When reporters link their Google profile with their articles,” Google’s Eric Weigle wrote in a blog post, “Google News now shows the writer’s name and how many Google+ users have that person in their circles.”... Nieman Journalism Lab, Nov. 3; Google News Blog, Nov. 2

But Google+ seems to be dead Farhad Manjoo writes: “The real test of Google’s social network is what people do after they join. As far as anyone can tell, they aren’t doing a whole lot. I’ve been surprised by just how dreary the site has http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

become. Although Google seems determined to keep adding new features, I suspect there’s little it can do to prevent Google+ from becoming a ghost town. Google might not know it yet, but from the outside, it’s clear that G+ has started to die—it will hang on for a year, maybe two, but at some point Google will have to put it out of its misery.”... Slate, Nov. 8

Director of Egypt’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina under fire Ismail Serageldin (right), director of the legendary Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Cairo, Egypt, has come under attack from the majority of his library staff and others who demand his departure over questions of unprofessional employee practices, alleged retaliation against workers for speaking freely, and for his affiliation with the outcast Mubarak regime. According to internet and Facebook reports and videos, peaceful protests and sit-ins demanding that Serageldin leave immediately have been taking place in Alexandria since late October.... Intellectual Property Watch, Nov. 6

Why kids can’t search Clive Thompson writes: “We’re often told that young people tend to be the most tech-savvy among us. But just how savvy are they? A group of researchers led by College of Charleston business professor Bing Pan tried to find out. Specifically, Pan wanted to know how skillful young folks are at online search. Perhaps not surprisingly, the students generally relied on the web pages at the top of Google’s results list. But Pan pulled a trick: He changed the order of the results for some students.”... Wired, Nov. 1

The myth of the tech-savvy student Ron Tanner writes: “When I began teaching a course called ‘Writing for the Web’ three years ago, I pictured myself scrambling to keep up with my plugged-in, tech-savvy students. I was sure I was in over my head. So I was stunned to discover that most of the 20-year-olds I meet know very little about the internet and even less about how to communicate effectively online. It seems clear that our increasingly technological world demands technologically adept citizens. Why wouldn’t we educate students in sophisticated uses of the internet?”... Chronicle of Higher Education: Online Learning, Nov. 6

Life after Google Lane A. Wilkinson writes: “Remember when Google was just a search engine? Yeah, me neither. Given how weird Google has been lately, I’ve decided to embark upon an experimental journey. can we really live without Google? I don’t know, but I’m going to try. Over the next few months I’m going to intentionally divest myself from as many Google products and services as possible. Here’s the plan.”... Sense and Reference, Nov. 4

Wisconsin student project unites artists and libraries Merging organizational savvy and community outreach, three students in the University of Wisconsin–Madison SLIS (Erinn Batykefer, Laura Damon- Moore, and Christina Endres) have created a resource to connect

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

artists, libraries, and the people who love them. The “Library as Incubator Project” is a clearinghouse for ideas: Artists can submit descriptions of their art, teachers can find ideas about integrating art into their lessons, and libraries can learn how to broaden services.... University of Wisconsin–Madison, Nov. 3

Johns Hopkins medical library to be online-only The William H. Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore will close its doors to patrons on January 1. But the library as an information resource is not closing; it is just moving completely online. The transition, 10 years in the making, is an inevitable acknowledgment of the dwindling use of the 81-year-old library’s 45,000-square-foot building and its 400,000 physical volumes, according to Library Director Nancy K. Roderer (above).... Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Oct. 27

The great obituary hunt Carmen Nigro writes: “One of many tools in the researcher’s toolbox is the obituary. They can be very useful to those who are researching genealogy, adding details that would otherwise be unknown. The names of relatives, location of birth, final resting place, occupation, religious affiliation, volunteer work, and other details of how someone spent their life are but a few examples of the wealth of information that can help a researcher or genealogy hobbyist flesh out the details of the life of someone from the past.”... New York Public Library blogs, Nov. 9

Wikipedia tops list of plagiarized sources David Nagel writes: “Where are students finding the materials they plagiarize in their papers? According to a new study, Wikipedia tops the list for both secondary and college students. But as a category, encyclopedia sites are among the least popular sources, coming in behind four other types of information outlets, including both academic sites and paper mills. The study, Plagiarism and the Web: A Comparison of Internet Sources for Secondary and Higher Education Students (PDF file), analyzed more than 33.5 million papers submitted to the Turnitin service.”... Campus Technology, Nov. 3

Copyright Office reports on legal issues of digitization The ongoing dispute between Google and copyright holders regarding mass digitization of books shows that the time is right for policymakers to take up some crucial questions, according to an October 31 report by the Copyright Office. The hefty document, Legal Issues in Mass Digitization: A Preliminary Analysis and Discussion Document (PDF file), provides an analysis of several issues, including the rights of libraries and archives, fair use rights, use of orphaned works, and licensing.... BNA Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Law Daily, Nov. 2

Two new library podcasts you should listen to Bobbi Newman writes: “There are two new podcasts in libraryland you should be listening

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 9, 2011

to. I know both of these hosts personally and I can’t recommend their work enough, so check them out. Circulating Ideas is a librarian interview podcast hosted by Steve Thomas. And Whatever Mathers features creative conversations with fabulous host Amy Mather and a revolving cast of surprise guests from all walks of the creative landscape.”... Librarian by Day, Nov. 8

Academic library publishing services on the rise Publishing services provided by libraries are expanding and professionalizing, according to a new report by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition on behalf of a team of researchers from the libraries of Purdue University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Utah. Approximately half (55%) of all respondents to a survey of deans and directors at 223 institutions indicated having or developing library publishing services.... Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, Nov. 1

What the dead once ate Jeff Weinstein writes: “Some time ago, when I was restaurant critic for the Village Voice, I was given a tour of the New York Public Library’s menu collection by its librarian, the late dancer and author Reynaldo Alejandro. He led me into a dark room and began to take down a few of the stacks’ 400 boxes, arranged chronologically. Most of the elaborately printed menus he opened were made for political banquets or top-hat special events, frilly objets d’art often saved as keepsakes. They left me cold. Where were the mimeographed throwaways from the diners, coffee shops, and automats?”... Obit, Nov. 7

The very model of a modern-day librarian Amanda Hill writes: “At the musical evening held October 15 as part of the Deseronto (Ont.) Public Library’s 125th anniversary celebrations, John Hall, the organist and director of music at Christ Church, sang this song (based on Gilbert and Sullivan) as a tribute to the work of Frances Smith, Deseronto’s current librarian, and her team. We’re hoping to get a video made of a repeat performance to share, but in the meantime, here are the words to give a taste of the event.”... Deseronto Archives, Nov. 2

Go back to the Top

Sign up to receive AL Direct every Wednesday here. American Libraries Magazine, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/110911-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:16 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Dallas Update Division News Awards & Grants Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | November 16, 2011 Books & Reading Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar

American Libraries Online

The Occupy Wall Street Library regrows in Manhattan Christian Zabriskie writes: “The People’s Library at Occupy Wall Street was destroyed in the early morning hours of November 15. The library was torn down and its books, laptops, archives, and support materials were thrown into dumpsters by armed police and city sanitation workers. Numerous library staff were arrested and, in one case, a librarian strapped the notebooks of original poetry from the library’s poetry readings to her body before lending aid to comrades who had been pepper-sprayed. Staff were assured that they would be able to recover their materials from a city sanitation depot, but on November 16 they found the laptops smashed, much of the collection missing, and many of the books that At the Midwinter Meeting were recovered damaged beyond recovery (above).” In response, in Dallas on January 22, writers have launched occupyeducated.org, an online library for Carl Lennertz will occupiers.... describe World Book American Libraries news, Nov. 16; Occupy Wall Street Library blog, Nov. 15–16 Night, a giveaway of one million free books to The brass ring of sustainability underserved readers Beverly Goldberg writes: “Last week’s Election Day brought some across America on April remarkably good news for many public libraries across the country 23, 2012. that sought operating millages and capital bonds for improvements. Seasoned advocates are well aware, however, that those victories were no reason for library boosters to rest on their laurels or stop reaching for the elusive brass ring of fiscal sustainability.”... AL: Inside Scoop, Nov. 16

Newsmaker: Poet Laureate Philip Levine At age 83, Philip Levine (right) has been appointed the 2011–2012 poet laureate consultant in poetry by Librarian of Congress James Billington. He took up his duties October 17, opening the library’s annual literary season with a reading from his work. In this interview, the street-smart poet has a few choice words to say about a lifetime of experience with good librarians—

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

and some bad ones.... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

On My Mind: An unplugged space Amanda Wakaruk and Marc Truitt write: “The physical library was once a place of refuge, an escape from distraction. But today, the constant need to connect and communicate has largely rendered this role obsolete. A library without internet and Wi-Fi access is, thankfully, an anomaly. In addition to being regarded as technology hubs for the public, should libraries reclaim their reputation for solitude by offering communication-free ‘Walden zones’ where people can easily engage in private, focused reading and reflection?”... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

Recommended listening and audiobooks Q. I got to explain to an older patron today that audiobooks can be downloaded. Now that she knows, she would love to give her 13-year-old granddaughter something else to listen to. Does ALA have any lists of audiobooks for children? A. The annual Notable Children’s Recordings list that comes out of ALSC has always been a mix of children’s music and story titles, with the format evolving from lists of cassettes to CDs to downloadable files.... AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Nov. 16 ALA News

So-called antipiracy copyright legislation Corey Williams writes: “The latest round of legislation thinly cloaked under a veil of copyright was supposedly crafted to squelch online piracy. Here’s what we have: The Protect IP Act (PIPA) bill (S. 968) in the U.S. Senate and the recently introduced companion SOPA or E-Parasite bill (H.R. 3261) in the U.S. House of Representatives. So you ask, what do these bills actually mean?” The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other opponents of the SOPA bill are participating in American Censorship Day, an internet-wide day of protest, on November 16. EFF claims there has been an explosion of opposition to the legislation. Read the op-ed by Rebecca MacKinnon.... District Dispatch, Nov. 15; Electronic Frontier Foundation, Nov. 15; New York Times, Nov. 15

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Conversations on transforming libraries ALA President Molly Raphael will host two afternoons of conversation about the evolving needs of our communities and how we can transform libraries and librarianship to meet their challenges January 21–22 at the 2012 Midwinter Meeting. One is “Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities,” which features renowned Syracuse iSchool professor David Lankes (right) leading small groups to address questions about transforming our communities and the profession. Sessions are open to all Midwinter attendees.... Conference Services, Nov. 15

Champion Connections seeks applicants ALA will host a special event at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting called “Champion Connections.” As part of ALA President Molly Raphael’s diversity leadership initiative, “Empowering Diverse Voices,” the event, scheduled for January 21, will provide new and emerging leaders with an opportunity to meet established leaders within ALA, its divisions, round tables, and affiliates. ALA is accepting applications through December 1 from those interested in participating. Individuals who are selected will be notified by December 16.... Office for Diversity, Nov. 15

ALCTS selects its Emerging Leader Erica Findley (right), digital resources/metadata librarian at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, has been selected as the ALCTS-sponsored Emerging Leader for 2012. ALCTS sponsors one Emerging Leader who has chosen collections and technical services as a career and is a member of ALCTS. After her year in the Emerging Leader program, Erica will serve a one-year term as intern to the ALCTS board of directors.... ALCTS, Nov. 15

LITA’s Emerging Leaders Jodie Gambill and Tasha Keagan are the LITA-sponsored participants in the ALA 2012 Emerging Leaders Program. LITA sponsorship includes a $1,000 stipend to help offset the costs of attending the 2012 Midwinter Meeting and the 2012 Annual Conference. Gambill and Keagan will each work on LITA projects and be mentored by the LITA leadership.... LITA, Nov. 9

PLA’s Emerging Leader PLA announces Heather Beverley, children’s librarian and technology/young adult consultant at Cook Memorial Public Library District in Illinois, as its representative for the 2012 Emerging Leaders program. The leadership development initiative enables newer library workers to participate in work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

profession in a leadership capacity. Beverley will receive $1,000 to attend the 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas and the 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, California.... PLA, Nov. 15

AASL’s Emerging Leaders AASL is sponsoring Krystel Gutierrez and Jennifer “Charlie” Kelly as its 2012 Emerging Leader. AASL will defray the cost of attending the 2012 Midwinter Meeting and the 2012 Annual Conference for Gutierrez, an elementary librarian at Smithville (Tex.) Elementary School, and Kelly, who worked most recently as a contract library media specialist substitute for Roberto Clemente School #8 in the Rochester (N.Y.) City School District.... AASL, Nov. 15

CALA’s Emerging Leaders The Chinese American Librarians Association has selected Yuan Li, scholarly communications librarian at Syracuse (N.Y.) University Library, and Chris Kyauk, intern at the Ethnic Studies Library at the University of California, Berkeley, for the 2012 Emerging Leaders program. As sponsor, CALA provides a stipend of $1,000 to support their attendance and participation in the Emerging Leaders program at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference.... Office for Diversity , Nov. 15

APALA’s Emerging Leader The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association’s Scholarships and Awards Committee has selected Tina Chan (right), reference and instruction librarian at the State University of New York, Oswego, as its 2012 Emerging Leader. APALA will provide funding to support her attendance and participation in the Emerging Leaders program at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference.... Office for Diversity, Nov. 15

The fundamentals of small public library management Anyone at the helm of a small public library knows Going Mobile that every little detail counts. But juggling the provides practical responsibilities that are part and parcel of the job is guidance in how far from easy. Small Public Library Management is a librarians can put the comprehensive handbook that includes everything library in the palms of administrators need to keep a handle on library their patrons’ hands. operations, freeing them up to streamline and Using the HTML skills improve how the organization functions. Small public that many librarians library veterans Jane Pearlmutter and Paul Nelson address such issues already have along as finance and HR to collection development and policy and with flexible programming. The book is packed with practical advice.... development tools, ALA Editions, Nov. 15 technology expert Scott La Counte shows Teaching information literacy to how creating a college students customized mobile app http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Joanna Burkhardt will facilitate an eCourse on doesn’t need to be Teaching Information Literacy to College Students. expensive or require Burkhardt, head librarian at the University of Rhode deep expertise. NEW! Island branch libraries and coauthor of Teaching From ALA Editions. Information Literacy: 50 Standards-Based Exercises for College Students, will serve as instructor for this three-week eCourse, which starts January 9.... ALA Editions, Nov. 15 New this week in American How to improve your library instruction Libraries Information literacy expert Sarah Steiner will teach a 90- minute workshop called “How to Improve Your Library Instruction: Assessment in Five Minutes” on January 11 at 12:30 p.m. Central time. Drawing from real-life examples, Steiner will discuss how to write the best assessment questions and use inexpensive survey tools to gauge learning while you interact with students.... ALA Editions, Nov. 15

Newsmaker

On My Mind

E-Content

Censorship Watch

Currents

Perpetual Beta

Featured review: Fiction for youth Inside Scoop Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Ask the ALA Fever. Nov. 2011. 224p. Grades 5–8. Librarian Abrams/Amulet (978-1-419-70223-5). Adults just don’t make any sense. They say Solutions and kids should get more exercise, and then they Services take away all the playground equipment because they’re afraid of getting sued. They AL Focus allege that they’re in charge, yet they have to ask middle-schoolers how to work the microwave. They proclaim kids should read more and then publish books like this! Wait. Well, they definitely got that last Great Libraries one right, as everything in this sixth entry will appeal to the very readers who have made this the tween series of the of the World decade. This time around, Greg Heffley’s can-you-even- believe-it diary entries and comical line art capture a nightmarish month between Thanksgiving and Christmas....

Talking with Daniel Kraus Mary Burkey writes: “I spoke briefly with Booklist’s Daniel Kraus about the audio recording Abbey of St. Peter of his novel Rotters—an experience that was so surreal that he im Schwarzwald, just ‘dipped in here and there to hear samples. But I’d be Sankt-Peter, Germany. open to listening to the whole thing one day if time allowed.’ Built by Austrian One aspect of the recording that especially pleased Kraus? architect Peter Thumb ‘The music at the end of the audiobook was from the band http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

in 1737–1739, this Vorvolakas, a fictional band in the book that became a real Rococo library is band to create an entire song.’”... decorated with paintings above the @ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... bookshelves that illustrate the major areas of knowledge. Much of the collection Dallas Update was lost in 1806 with the coming of secularization, but it Dallas World Aquarium has retained volumes The Dallas World Aquarium, at 1801 N. Griffin on geography, Street (about a 16-minute walk from the astronomy, and Convention Center), is both an aquarium and literature of the a zoo that features flora and fauna from five Enlightenment. continents, 14 countries, three oceans, and numerous seas and rivers. Exhibits include a 200-foot Wilds of Borneo entrance ramp, an “Orinoco: Secrets of the River” rainforest exhibit, an outdoor South Africa display, and Mundo Maya, an eight-story immersion exhibit that is modeled after the ancient Mayan civilization.... Dallas World Aquarium

An alternative guide to Dallas This guide was created by Nicole Pagowsky Carmelite Monastery and the North Texas Radical Reference Library, Straubing, Collective to help those looking for Germany. The library alternative options in Dallas (lifestyle, diet, was founded in 1368 interests) that might not be included in and completely mainstream city guides. The guide and restored in 2008. The map is not fully comprehensive, but they did their best to give you main hall is famous for options as close to the Convention Center and downtown as possible, its dazzling frescoes of and with a few outliers.... scholarly Carmelites Radical Reference painted in 1715 by an unknown artist. A rubric for breakout sessions Doug Johnson writes: “One of the activities that is a part of my This AL Direct feature workshop on designing authentic assessment tools involves creating a showcases 250 libraries around the world that are rubric to assess the quality of a conference breakout session. Since all notable for their exquisite participants have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly of architecture, historic attending this kind of performance, such a tool is fairly fast and easy collections, and innovative to build—and fun to discuss. For 10 minutes of work in a room full of services. If you find yourself strangers, a list like this is usually not too bad.”... on vacation near one of them, be sure to stop by for Blue Skunk Blog, Nov. 13 a visit. The entire list will be available in The Whole Library Handbook 5, edited Division News by George M. Eberhart, which is scheduled for publication in 2013 by ALA Editions. ALSC launches new Día website To better serve the growing population of libraries offering events for El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) on April 30, ALSC has launched a completely redesigned website. The new site offers a Día resource guide (PDF file) designed for public and school librarians that gives them everything they need to produce a Día event. Registration is now open for Día events around the country.... ALSC, Nov. 14

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Spotlight on adult literature at Midwinter Meeting ALTAFF, along with ALA Conference Services, will sponsor a Spotlight on Adult Literature on January 21 at the Exhibit Hall during the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. Participating publishers will host book and galley giveaways, Career Leads author signings, and more. Jeanette Winterson (right) will sign galleys of her memoir Why Be Happy When You Could from Be Normal?, and Val McDermid will sign copies of her new book The Retribution.... ALTAFF, Nov. 15 Assistant Librarian/ Leadership for today’s libraries Coordinator of ALCTS will present a virtual Midwinter symposium called “Launching Testing Services, Your Star Potential: Leadership for Today’s Libraries,” beginning Central Wyoming January 9 at 1 p.m. Central time. Adam Goodman, from the Center College, for Leadership at Northwestern University, will deliver the keynote Riverton. Responsible address, and James Hilton, vice president and chief information officer for providing at the University of Virginia, will close out the symposium on January professional librarian 13. These content leaders will focus on important aspects of assistance, overseeing leadership in an ever-changing environment.... the Testing Center, and ALCTS, Nov. 15 supervising the college’s open computer RUSA spatial literacy course lab. Successful The next offering of RUSA’s online course, “Introduction to Spatial candidates should have Literacy and Online Mapping,” will be November 28–December 18. a bachelor’s degree in Through podcasts and hands-on assignments, participants will explore library science or uses for geographic information systems (GIS) technology within related field and three organizations and also its social uses beyond simple cartography. The years of related deadline for registration is November 23.... experience. Application RUSA Blog, Nov. 16 review to begin November 30.... New AASL video podcast series AASL presents 30 Second Thought Leadership: Insights from Leaders in the School Library Community, a new video podcast series delivering brief and practical advice from respected school library leaders on important questions about school libraries today and in the future. Questions are based on the themes of Knowledge Quest issues.... AASL, Nov. 15

Boost your library’s teen services with YALSA’s pre- @ More jobs... Midwinter workshop Find out how you can give your library’s standard teen services an easy-to-implement boost at YALSA’s half-day workshop, “Innovations in Essential Teen Services,” on January 20. Join YALSA for easy Digital Library updates on providing readers’ advisory, homework help, teen space of the Week design, promoting and developing literacy skills, and more. If you

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

plan to attend Midwinter, you can add the institute to your registration.... YALSA, Nov. 15

New issue of Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults The Fall 2011 issue of YALSA’s Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults is now available. This special issue focuses on the new national research agenda from YALSA, with contributions from YALSA’s research committee chair and members of the JRLYA Editorial Advisory Board. The journal is Europeana published four times a year, in November, February, Collections 1914– May, and August. Its purpose is to enhance the development of 1918: Remembering theory, research, and practices to support young adult library the First World War services.... will encompass by YALSA, Nov. 15 2014 (the centennial of the war’s outbreak) International students and academic a substantial digital libraries collection of material from national library ACRL has released International Students and collections of 10 Academic Libraries: Initiatives for Success, edited by libraries and other Pamela Jackson and Patrick Sullivan, which presents partners in eight insightful case studies that describe over a dozen countries that found exciting library projects supporting the success of themselves on international students studying at academic different sides of the institutions. The work provides numerous examples of historic conflict. It is new and innovative strategies for librarians to cofunded in the encourage library use among international students and increase framework of the international student success.... European ACRL Insider, Nov. 15 Commission’s Go back to the Top Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). The Awards & Grants three-year project will make more than 400,000 WWI sources John Cotton Dana Award expands to publicly and freely eight available online for the Libraries using innovative ways to conduct public first time—content relations efforts have more opportunities to benefit. that is often rare and The John Cotton Dana Award is being expanded to highly fragile because include eight $10,000 grants. The award is provided of the deteriorating in conjunction with the H. W. Wilson Foundation, quality of the paper it ALA, and EBSCO Publishing. The award, which is was produced on and managed by LLAMA, honors outstanding library public relations generally only projects. The next deadline to apply for the awards is March 15.... accessible in reading H. W. Wilson Foundation, Nov. 15 rooms. The digital library officially started YALSA award and grant applications due December in May 2011 and will 1 continue to add items Each year YALSA offers more than $90,000 in grants and awards to through April 2014. its members to travel to ALA conferences, to support collection development, to honor outstanding contributions to young adult Do you know of a digital library collection that we can librarianship, to conduct research, and more. YALSA members may mention in this AL Direct apply for various awards and grants by December 1.... feature? Tell us about it. YALSA, Nov. 15 Browse previous Digital Libraries of the Week at the I Apply for a 2012 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Love Libraries site.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Donation Grant The deadline to apply for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant has been extended to January 31. Awarded by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee, the grant provides books submitted for consideration for the awards to libraries and other organizations to expand their collections. Each year, three organizations are selected that demonstrate need and potential benefit from receiving the collection.... Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, Nov. 14

Hawaiian librarian awarded Medal of Public Pushkin Patricia Ann Polansky (right), Russian bibliographer Perception for the Northeast Asia Collection at the University of How the World Hawaii at Manoa since 1970, was presented Sees Us November 11 with the Medal of Pushkin from the government of Russia, a rare honor for an American. “As Wall Street and The medal recognizes great contributions to the Occupy Wall Street study and preservation of Russian cultural heritage or continue their battle the promotion of cultural exchange. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey for the soul of Lavrov presented the medal to Polansky.... American society University of Hawaii News, Nov. 14 into the winter and then an election 2011 Wellcome Trust Book Prize year, the flood of The third Wellcome Trust Book Prize was awarded to knowledge Alice LaPlante November 9 for her debut novel Turn of represented by the Mind (Random House), a tale of a family’s secrets OWS People’s Library exposed by murder and a brilliant mind in terminal is one of the best decline from Alzheimer’s. As the novel progresses, the weapons protesters narrator’s mind collapses as she enters the last stages have to hold their of dementia. It is the first novel to win the £25,000 ground against their ($39,750 U.S.) Wellcome Trust Book Prize, which is much better open to outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction on the theme of financed, and armed, health and medicine.... adversaries.” Wellcome Trust, Nov. 10 —UC-Irvine History Professor Mark LeVine, in “The People’s 2011 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Library and the Future of Andy Mulligan’s Return to Ribblestrop, about a school OWS,” Al Jazeera, Nov. 16. filled with pupils including Colombian gangster’s son Sanchez, self-harming Miles, wild Millie, and a motley crew of orphans, is the winner of the 2011 Guardian @ More quotes... Children’s Fiction Prize. Established in 1967, the £1,500 ($2,383 U.S.) award celebrates works of children’s literature by British or Commonwealth authors. The prize is awarded by a panel of authors and the review editor for The Guardian’s children’s books section.... The Guardian (U.K.), Nov. 10

Fracking: Energy Bonanza Seen Online or Environmental Debacle? by Wanda Urbanska Chicago budget passes, libraries affected Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget passed the Chicago City Council unanimously November 16. The 50–0 vote sets the city down a path next year of belt-tightening measures, among them the reduction of Chicago Public Library hours and layoffs of library staff. In recent weeks, the mayor compromised with aldermen to soften the blow of library cuts.... Connect with your kids: Art Chicago Tribune, Nov. 16 Parent @ your library

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Is lying on the internet illegal? History of the Youth Media Eyder Peralta writes: “On November 15, a subcommittee of the House Awards Committee on the Judiciary heard some fascinating testimony about How to Find a Great Job: the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The hearing, titled “Cyber Entry-Level Workers and Security: Protecting America's New Frontier,” focused on big cyber Career-Changers threats to the country’s infrastructure, but there was another juicier Conversations with the question that came out of the hearing: The way the Justice Earth: Indigenous Voices on Department wants to interpret a current law, lying on the internet Climate Change would amount to a crime.”... NPR: The Two-Way, Nov. 15 Jonathan Stroud: 'Right from the beginning, libraries were there for me' Anti–net neutrality bill defeated in U.S. Senate (video) An effort on Capitol Hill to overturn the federal government’s net neutrality regulations failed today. By a 46–52 vote, the U.S. Senate The Headline Works of Andy rejected a Republican-backed proposal that would have lifted the Warhol at the National Gallery regulations before they take effect on November 20. The defeat of the bill sends a clear message that libraries and the public they serve not Libraries Open Their Doors only care strongly about this issue but also depend on a free and to Gamers on National open internet to provide unfettered access to all types of Gaming Day @ your library information.... CNET News, Nov. 10; District Dispatch, Nov. 10 Join Us on Facebook

Occupy Toronto Library: The best? Subscribe to our Toronto author Peter Unwin writes: “On Newsletter November 12, I visited the yurt that houses the Occupy Toronto Library where I was donating a copy of my last book, Hard Surface: In Search of the Canadian Road. I mention this because the Occupy Toronto library is now widely viewed as the finest library in the entire Occupy system. I find myself wondering how it is that the entire City of Toronto cannot maintain a public library that serves the local community, but that somehow a few kids in tents can do exactly that.”... Toronto Globe and Mail: In Other Words, Nov. 14

Brooklyn branch showcases emerging artists Librarian Boris Loselev is on a mission to give his neighborhood a culture shock. For the past 10 years, Loselev has quietly turned the auditorium of the Gravesend branch of the Brooklyn Public Library into a high-class gallery exhibiting emerging artists’ works. He said TweetWatch Gravesend is in desperate need of a culture shock so he works overtime on his own dime to pull off the monthly art exhibits.... Follow: New York Daily News, Nov. 14 Indiana Library California school librarians under pressure Federation, Annual Since the onset of the recession, the mantra among school leaders in Conference, Fort California has been to keep cuts away from the classroom when Wayne, Nov. 14–16, possible. But that hasn’t been true for what some educators consider at: the largest classroom on campus—the school library—even though #ilf11 demand has never been greater for guidance on how to safely and effectively navigate today’s overwhelming array of research options. 2011 Global Education Once a national model, California’s school library program has Conference, online, languished in recent years.... Nov. 14–18, at: Capitol Weekly, Nov. 14 #globaled11

Boston’s new zine lending library National Digital Public opens Library Conference, Julia Dawidowicz writes: “Imagine a friendly Los Angeles Public

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

space in which you are given the resources to Library, Nov. 15–17, express your own unique voice, knowing that it at: will be heard. Nestled in the back of Lorem #ndpl Ipsum, the beloved indie bookstore situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts’ Inman Square, such a place exists: the Papercut Zine Museum Computer Library. Soon after moving to this new location, Papercut already has Network, Annual a fully functioning zine lending library. With unique artwork, 15,000 Conference, Atlanta, independently produced zines, and a zine-making station stocked with Nov. 16–19, at: everything from a vintage typewriter to art supplies and endless #mcn2011 collaging materials, the space oozes with originality and creative energy.”... ALA Midwinter Boston Globe: The Next Great Generation, Nov. 12 Meeting, Dallas, Jan. 20–24, at: An unusual library finds a new #alamw12 home In Chicago’s Humboldt Park, a small band of American Libraries volunteers scrambled to put the finishing news stories, blog touches on their library’s new home—the sixth posts, tweets, and in as many years for the Read/Write Library, videos, at: the city’s largest depository of grassroots printed materials. Formerly amlibraries known as the Chicago Underground Library, Read/Write rejects the selectivity of traditional libraries and collects “anything from university press to handmade artists’ books to zines made by 13-year-olds,” said Nell Taylor, the founder and executive director of the all- Calendar volunteer, donation-financed library, which officially reopened on November 11. She said Read/Write is the nation’s only grassroots- Nov. 29– oriented library to house printed works from an entire city.... Dec. 1: New York Times, Nov. 12 Gilbane Conference, Westin Boston Library’s denial of Nativity scene sparks controversy Waterfront. Plans to include a live nativity scene in outdoor courtyard at the Springhill branch of the Webster Parish (La.) Library created some Nov. 29– controversy in this community after library officials reportedly said no Dec. 2: to anything with “religious tones,” according to event planner Letha International Dew. Library System Director Beverly Hammett said November 15 Conference on that she would release a statement on the library’s position but was Education, awaiting advice of legal counsel.... Informatics, and Shreveport (La.) Times, Nov. 16 Cybernetics, Private equity firm acquires LJ, SLJ Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, RLJ Equity Partners, a middle-market private equity firm whose Florida. chairman is the founder of Black Entertainment Television, announced November 9 it has acquired Media Source, Inc. (MSI), the parent company of Library Journal, School Library Journal, Junior Library Dec. 6–9: Guild, and The Horn Book. Details of the transaction were not made Digital Strategies for available. In March 2010, MSI bought LJ and SLJ from Reed Business Heritage, Conference, Information.... World Trade Center, Library Journal, Nov. 9 Rotterdam, Netherlands. Library mascot is a globetrotter One of the most well-traveled people in the Dec. 9: Houma-Thibodaux area of southeast Louisiana Northern Ohio may not be a person at all—it might just be Technical Services Garcon, a stuffed alligator and the mascot of Librarians, Fall the South Lafourche branch of the Lafourche Meeting, Kent State Parish Public Library. Garcon spends most of University, Ohio. his days hanging out on the library’s reference

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

desk. But the alligator’s favorite hobby is traveling, so he often Dec. 12–14: hitches rides with library patrons to places like the White House, the International Colosseum in Rome, and Cozumel.... Conference on Social Thibodaux (La.) Daily Comet, Nov. 14 Computing and its Applications, Aerial Colonel Sanders book discovered in UTS Function Centre, KFC storage Sydney, Australia. Longtime Yum Brands employee Amy Sherwood was poking around the archives at KFC’s storage Dec. 13–15: facility in Louisville, Kentucky, when she came International across a typed manuscript (right), unseen for Conference on some 40 years. She quickly realized what it was Innovative and who wrote it—Colonel Harland Sanders Computing himself. According to KFC, the “food Technology, autobiography” was written in 1965 or 1966 and provides a rare look University of Tehran, into the life of the world’s legendary entrepreneur and shares his Iran. personal collection of favorite recipes that he gathered and perfected over his lifetime. The company plans to publish it online sometime in Jan. 6: 2012.... CurateGear: Enabling Toronto Star, Nov. 11; KFC, Nov. 10 the Curation of Digital Collections, Scooter Hayes, the hip-hop Symposium, University librarian of North Carolina, Scooter Hayes, better known as Melvil Chapel Hill. Dewey the international library hip-hop superstar, makes use of his own creative Jan. 23–25: spirit and love for libraries to educate Digital Book World, youth on the permanent value of libraries. Conference and Expo, He started story rapping for kids at the New Hanover County Library Sheraton Hotel and in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 2009, and for a library school course Towers, New York City. he created a YouTube video called the Dewey Decimal Rap (4:15) that has gotten nearly 600,000 views. Since then, Hayes has released a Feb. 2–4: CD of library hip-hop songs and is in negotiations to turn his act into RootsTech: Family a picture book. Watch his story in this documentary (6:54) directed History and by Stacey Jewell.... Technology Camp Le Jeune (N.C.) Globe, Nov. 10; YouTube, Mar. 10, 2009; Vimeo, Sept. Conference, Salt Palace Convention Novelist fights the tide by opening a Center, Salt Lake City. bookstore A collective panic set in among Nashville, Tennessee’s Feb. 7–10: reading faithful after a beloved local bookstore closed iConference 2012, here last December and another store was lost to the Faculty of Information, Borders bankruptcy. But residents have found a savior University of Toronto. in Ann Patchett, the bestselling novelist who grew up “Culture, Design, in the city. On November 16, Patchett, the acclaimed Society.” author of Bel Canto and Truth and Beauty, opened Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore that is the product of six months of breakneck planning and a healthy infusion of cash from its owner.... Feb. 23–26: New York Times, Nov. 15 Vilnius Book Fair/ Baltic Book Fair, Manuscripts decaying in Patna library Lithuanian Exhibition More than 5,000 rare manuscripts are decaying in Patna University’s and Congress Centre, Central Library in the Indian state of Bihar for lack of proper upkeep Vilnius. “Open the and preservation. The manuscript section of the library, once World!” considered to be a repository of rich cultural heritage, was locked after the three employees looking after it retired several years ago. Feb. 25– The air conditioning has not been working for the last 25 years. The Mar. 4: manuscripts are written in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, Sanskrit, Maithili, New Delhi World and Hindi, and date back as far as the 13th century.... Book Fair, Pragati The Times of India (New Delhi), Nov. 11 Maidan, New Delhi, http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

India. Go back to the Top Mar. 1–2: Tech Talk Edge2012, Conference, Macdonald Roxburghe Hotel, Amazon Kindle Fire review Edinburgh, Scotland. Sascha Segan writes: “The Amazon Kindle Fire puts “Pushing the the Apple iPad on notice. The Fire is the first small Boundaries of Public tablet that average users can pick up and immediately Service Delivery.” use, with a simple, clear interface. Then there’s the price: Android along with amazing specs for just $199. Apr. 11–14: It’s open enough to attract geeks, too. While the user Museums and the interface occasionally gets sluggish, we’re willing to Web, Sheraton Marina, have a bit of patience to get a first-rate tablet for half San Diego, California. of what most competitors charge; thus the Kindle Fire is our first Editors’ Choice for small tablets.” The Fire can also run almost any Android app. Here’s how.... @ More... PC Magazine, Nov. 14–15

Fire aside, other Kindles also shine David Pogue writes: “If you think that the pace Contact Us of technological progress is already too fast, American Libraries you’d better not look at ebook readers. You’ll Direct get whiplash. All of a sudden, ebook companies are flooding the market with new models simultaneously. You’d think some major gift- buying season was about to begin. In all, Amazon has three new Kindle models. The two cheaper ones will surely get lost in the smoke AL Direct is a free electronic from the Fire, but that’s a pity; they’re rather spectacular.”... newsletter emailed every New York Times: Personal Tech, Nov. 13 Wednesday to personal members of the American Library Association and Perceptions 2011: A survey of library automation subscribers. Marshall Breeding writes: “For the last three years I have conducted a survey and written a report on the perceptions that libraries form of the quality of the core automation products they use and their satisfaction with the service they receive. It’s time to collect data for the 2011 edition of the survey. This is an opportunity for libraries to George M. Eberhart, register their perceptions of the ILS product they use, its vendor, and Editor: the quality of support delivered. Here is how you can participate.”... [email protected] Library Technology Guides, Nov. 14

Google’s webfont library Sarah Gooding writes: “Did you know that

Google has a directory of nearly 300 webfonts Beverly Goldberg, available for use on your website? One Senior Editor: advantage of using Google’s fonts is that they [email protected] load quickly because they are reliably hosted on Google’s servers. Plus, all of the Google webfonts are released under open source licenses, which means that you can freely use them on any noncommercial or commercial project. Supreme Google Greg Landgraf, Webfonts is a plugin that makes it easy to add Google webfonts to Associate Editor: your WordPress site.”... [email protected] WPMU.org, Nov. 15

Sarah’s Gadget Showcase, part 4 Sarah Houghton writes: “This installment of the Gadget Showcase is a collection of random miscellaneous things I Sanhita SinhaRoy, use . . . stuff that works well for me. This is truly a list Associate Editor: [email protected] of ‘a few of my favorite things.’ Enjoy, and tell me what

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

your favorite things are too in the comments section.” On Jennifer Henderson, the right, a Dyson air multiplier.... Contributing Researcher Librarian in Black, Nov. 12 To advertise in American Throttling and web-surfing speeds Libraries Direct, contact: Kevin J. O’Brien writes: “Web surfing can be baffling. A favorite page gets hung up. A data-intensive application, like playing a video or Doug Lewis: [email protected] downloading large files, stutters or stops. Is it the telecommunications operator? Is it the website? Is it the smartphone or the computer? Or just a sign of internet thrombosis? Often, the blame lies with the telecom operator, which is selectively slowing broadband speeds to keep traffic flowing on its network, using a sorting technique called Katie Bane: throttling.”... [email protected] New York Times, Nov. 13 Send feedback: The risks of ultrafast networks [email protected] The promise of having access to mammoth amounts of data instantly, anywhere, is matched by the threat of catastrophe. People are AL Direct FAQ: creating more data and moving it ever faster on computer networks. americanlibrariesmagazine .org/aldirect The fast networks allow people to pour much more of civilization

online. But statistics dictate that the vastly greater number of All links outside the ALA transactions among computers in a world 100 times faster than today website are provided for will lead to a greater number of unpredictable accidents, with less informational purposes only. time in between them.... Questions about the content of any external site should New York Times, Nov. 13 be addressed to the administrator of that site. The making of the Xbox: A video game revolution Sign up to receive AL Dean Takahashi writes: “Microsoft Direct every Wednesday launched its Xbox video game console here. one decade ago. Nobody expected it to American Libraries succeed. The skeptics were out in force 50 E. Huron St. when the giant-size console launched on November 15, 2001. It Chicago, IL 60611 turned out to be successful beyond Microsoft’s wildest expectations. Website Microsoft lost (or, more politely, invested) more than $4 billion in the 800-545-2433, ext. 4216 first console. But it has created an entertainment business that is now

much more valuable than that.”... ISSN 1559-369X Games Beat, Nov. 14

The best online backup service Brian Lam writes: “The most foolproof way to back up a computer in case of emergency isn’t a hard drive anymore. It’s an online backup service that sends your precious data to the internet where fire, flood, thievery, and hard drive failure can’t touch it, in real time, as long as you’ve got a net connection. Believe it or not, these services cost only about as much as the cost of a few cups of coffee a month. There are two popular choices: Backblaze and Crashplan. Crashplan wins, according to my own research and testing.”... The Wirecutter, Nov. 13

E-Content

What’s next? Book Match?

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Christopher Harris writes: “If I can rip my CD to an MP3, why can’t I scan my book to an EPUB? That is the question running through my mind as I ponder the new iTunes Match service from Apple. For $24.99 a year, the service scans the music on your hard drive and then matches it with songs available through iTunes to provide online access to your music. Presumably, the music you are matching has been ripped from your CDs; iTunes offers to automatically rip, or extract and convert, CDs you play to have them stored as digital files on your computer. In reality, Apple’s service does not check for the origin of the file.”... AL: E-Content, Nov. 16

Dispatches from the Field: A guide to ebook purchasing Sue Polanka writes: “For those libraries looking to purchase ebooks, you are not alone. According to the Library Journal 2011 survey of ebook penetration and use in libraries, 95% of academic, 82% of public, and 44% of school libraries are already offering ebooks, and many more are considering it. For anyone contemplating purchasing ebooks, asking why is the most important question. Whatever the reason, it is imperative to keep one’s goals in mind throughout the process. Buying ebooks is a complicated process; to do it effectively is an even greater challenge.”... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

Libraries ramp up ebook lending After a tentative foray into digital lending on PCs and e-readers several years ago, public libraries are opening the next chapter for smartphones and tablet computers. The movement kicked into high gear in September when Amazon finally turned on its Kindle for 11,000 local libraries, triggering a flood of new users. App developers are also working with libraries to enable book lovers to borrow on their smartphones. The evolution is playing out amid some challenges, including an ongoing squabble between eager- to-grow libraries and publishers that fear copyright infringement and losing money on digital distribution.... USA Today, Nov. 14

Authors Guild urges caution with Amazon ebooks Amazon recently started offering free ebooks to its Prime members, and it looks as if the fight is just beginning. On November 14 the Authors Guild posted a warning against the Prime ebooks. It raised a number of valid issues about how Amazon doesn’t actually have the rights to lend most of these ebooks.... The Digital Reader, Nov. 15; Authors Guild, Nov. 14

Accessibility issues in ebooks and e-readers Ken Petri writes: “This page supplements material from a chapter on the accessibility of ebooks in No Shelf Required 2: Use and Management of Electronic Books (ALA Editions). It covers two topics that had to be truncated in the chapter due to concerns about length and currency of information: Functional criteria for ebook accessibility, and An overview of common ebook accessibility.”... http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center

Open Library: A national interlibrary ebook loan Dan Weissmann and Ashley Gross write: “With digital books exploding in popularity, some major publishers are making it more difficult for libraries to get ebooks on their virtual shelves and keep them there. But there is a plan to help libraries create something like a national online interlibrary loan system for digitized books. The Open Library project, part of a massive online library called the Internet Archive, wants to help libraries team up to get digital mileage out of their existing paper books.”... Venture, WBEZ-FM, Chicago, Nov. 13

Academic libraries and ebooks Peter Brantley writes: “One of the most confusing impacts of the surge in access to ebooks is whether academic library interests should be more or less bound together with public libraries. The issue has a wide range of ramifications, from acquisitions to collections and to responses to the shifting commercial marketplace. What would be intriguing is if one market could serve the other.”... Publishers Weekly: PWxyz, Nov. 10

Wake Forest collaborates on textbook alternative Wake Forest University and Odigia have partnered to create BioBook, a digital alternative to college-level biology textbooks. Funded by a $249,000 grant from the Next Generation Learning Challenge, BioBook has nodes that contain all the baseline information a textbook would include, plus additional materials such as multimedia, quizzes, and the ability to ask peers and teachers questions. Teachers can track student progress and interaction with the material and give feedback or suggest help. Students and teachers can also write new nodes.... Campus Technology, Nov. 9

L.A. Times publishes 99-cent ebook Erin L. Cox writes: “On November 14, the Los Angeles Times released its first ebook, A Nightmare Made Real, based on a series of articles by staff writer Christopher Goffard. The ebook is an expanded version of Goffard’s two-part series on a Las Vegas banker accused of kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault. Available on Kindle, Nook, and iBooks for 99 cents, A Nightmare Made Real is said to be the first in a series of 8–10 ebooks that the daily intends to publish. It’s the latest in a trend that is seeing newspapers publishing ebooks.”... Publishing Perspectives, Nov. 14

Comic books lead top-grossing iPad book apps list Comic book apps continue to lead the top-grossing iPad apps in the books genre. According to research from AppData, Inside Network’s data service that tracks app and developer leaderboards, Comics is the number one top-grossing iPad book app, followed by DC Comics at number two and Marvel Comics at number three.... eBookNewser, Nov. 15

Hashing out digital trust Kate Zwaard writes: “I like to describe content authentication

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

programs as consisting of two parts: 1) tools and evidence we provide to users so they can assure themselves that they’re looking at the real thing; and 2) tools the stewards of the information use to reduce the risk of content being altered. A cornerstone of both are the methods we use to determine fixity, that is, that a file has not been accidentally or purposefully changed.”... The Signal: Digital Preservation, Nov. 15

Digital preservation Do you still have those large 5.25-inch floppy discs at home? Or computer files created with an old program that doesn’t exist anymore? Then you are familiar with today’s problem: Your current computer cannot cope with these old data carriers or software anymore. Large cultural heritage institutions are facing a similar problem. But there is a solution: emulating old computer systems using modern computers. Europe’s KEEP (Keeping Emulation Environments Portable) project, which began in 2009, has been doing research and development into technical and legal possibilities and challenges to give long-term access to digital information using emulation.... Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Nov. 3

ProQuest reorganizes ProQuest on November 9 announced that it has reorganized into six business units and named a new executive team. Past ALTAFF President Rod Gauvin will head ProQuest Information Solutions with responsibility for all library markets. In addition, 40 jobs have been eliminated across the company, which employs some 1,800 people. In a statement, ProQuest officials said the moves would make the organization “flatter and more agile” and more responsive to customer needs. Among the changes, ProQuest has moved Bowker under the direction of Michael Gersch, senior vice president and general manager of Serials Solutions.... Publishers Weekly, Nov. 10

Go back to the Top Books & Reading

World Book Night U.S. World Book Night U.S has launched an official website for the April 23 celebration that aims to spread a love of reading and books through book giveaways across the country on one night. WBN also launched on Twitter and Facebook. On April 23, 50,000 book givers will hand out 20 copies of one of the 25 World Book Night picks in communities across the United States. One million paperbacks will be given away. Bookstores and libraries are encouraged to put up displays of the books in their regular editions.... Bookselling This Week, Nov. 14

10 charities that promote literacy Dianna Dilworth writes: “The holidays are just around the corner and many people are looking for ways to give to others. If you want to encourage future readers, we have put together a list of 10 charities that promote literacy. For your exploration, we’ve

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

listed the name of the charity, its mission statement, and its website.”... GalleyCat, Nov. 15

The subconscious bookshelf Leah Price writes: “Because books can be owned without being read and read without being owned, bookshelves reveal at once our most private selves and our most public personas. They can serve as a utilitarian tool or a theatrical prop. For a coffee-table book of my own, I recently toured several writers’ book collections. Gazing at the shelves of a novelist whose writings lie dog-eared on my own bookcase, I felt as lucky as a restaurant-goer granted a peek at the chef’s refrigerator.”... New York Times Sunday Book Review, Nov. 10; Financial Times, Nov. 12

100 best first lines from novels The editors of American Book Review selected what they consider the most memorable first lines of novels. The titles on the list span centuries and genres and include classics (Moby-Dick, 1984) and contemporary novels that are certain to become classics (Neuromancer, Middlesex). Use this list to test your literary knowledge.... Information Please

The art of fleurons L. D. Mitchell writes: “Book designers looking to spruce up an otherwise dreary page often turn for help to a group of typographic glyphs known broadly as ornaments. Among the most common glyphs in this group are borders, cartouches, rules, tail-pieces, and, the subject of today’s post, fleurons (aka printers’ flowers). Fleuron refers specifically to stylized forms of flowers or leaves (what Robert Bringhurst called horticultural dingbats).”... The Private Library, Nov. 4

Actions & Answers

10 ways schools are teaching internet safety Meris Stansbury writes: “Teaching students about internet safety has been important for as long as the internet has existed, but it’s in the spotlight this year in particular as schools get ready to apply for 2012 e-rate discounts on their telecommunications services and internet access. To get an idea how educators are approaching this issue, we recently asked readers: ‘Do you teach internet safety at your school or district? If so, how?’ Here are 10 of the most innovative and detail-rich answers.”... eSchool News, Nov. 11

J. Edgar at the Library of Congress Mark Hartsell writes: “Director Clint Eastwood and actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts came to the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building on March 27

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

to shoot scenes for a film about the life of J. Edgar Hoover, former head of the FBI and—for nearly five years— an LC employee. Hoover got his start in government in 1913 at the Library of Congress, first as messenger, then as clerk and cataloger. Kenneth D. Ackerman, author of the book that inspired the film, believed the library’s cataloging system inspired him to create a system at the FBI to track information about individuals, groups, and movements.” Eastwood’s J. Edgar opened in theaters November 11.... Library of Congress Information Bulletin 70, no. 5 (May 2011)

British librarians and the First World War Lynn Young writes: “In 1923, the Library Association commissioned the calligraphers Edward Johnston and H. Lawrence Christie to design a roll of honor commemorating the British librarians who fell in the Great War. The association contacted libraries across the United Kingdom asking for information about staff members killed. It was decided that the entire memorial (above) would be made of a series of wood panels incised in gilt. The memorial remained at the British Museum until 1998 when it was moved to its current site in the British Library.”... British Library: Untold Lives, Nov. 13

Prove your relevance through qualitative data Steve Matthews writes: “There are few things more important in the librarian profession today than proving to the funders that the library is relevant and valuable to the community. You can better prove that by using more than count numbers—circulation count, door count, program count—and make use of qualitative data for your measurements of success. Of course, qualitative data is much harder to collect than quantitative.”... 21st Century Library Blog, Nov. 16

Renovation as a catalyst for change Erin Dorney and Eric Frierson write: “This post is about two libraries attempting to reinvent services, collections, and spaces as the walls of their buildings come crashing down. Rather than embarking on phased construction projects, the library buildings at both St. Edward’s University and Millersville University (above) will be completely shut down for a period of one and two years, respectively. Renovations can be catalysts for change, experimentation and flexibility, and distributed/embedded librarianship.”... In the Library with the Lead Pipe, Nov. 9

Google has everything (but the library has more) Lane Wilkinson writes: “So how do we counter the popular belief that everything is in Google? You know what sticks? Numbers. If you really want to drive the point home that Google is only a moderately helpful research tool, why not quickly show your students that, far http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

from being ‘everything,’ a Google search returns fewer articles than a fairly standard library database. It goes like this.”... Sense and Reference, Nov. 10

Fayetteville Free Library’s Fab Lab Audrey Watters writes: “Earlier this year, MAKE Magazine’s Phillip Torrone wrote a provocative article asking, ‘Is it time to rebuild and retool libraries and make techshops?’ In other words, should libraries join some of the other new community centers that are being created and become hackerspaces or makerspaces? The Fayetteville (N.Y.) Free Library’s Lauren Smedley (right) is building a Fab Lab—short for fabrication laboratory—that will provide free public access to machines and software for manufacturing and making things.”... MindShift, KQED-FM, San Francisco, Nov. 9

The Bobst Library treasure hunt Adam L. Penenberg writes: “I am doing research for a book on ways that game mechanics are expressed in everyday life, and I wondered if gamification could be a good way to expose my journalism students to research beyond the web. This led me to team up with Alexa Pearce, a research librarian at New York University’s Bobst Library, to create a mobile, interactive treasure hunt. The test was composed of nine questions, each worth 1,000 points, and if a student requested help or a hint it would cost 250 points. They had three hours to complete it.”... Fast Company, Nov. 14

Should you respond to comments on your social media sites? Kathy Dempsey writes: “Ever wonder whether you should respond to a user comment on your Facebook page, Twitter feed, or blog? When is it appropriate to say something, and how should you say it? Every organization with social sites has wondered about this. When librarians talk about social media, especially Facebook, the problem of how to interact with fans always comes up. There’s a wide range of challenges. Here are five common ones, from the most restrictive to the least.”... The ‘M’ Word–Marketing Libraries, Nov. 9

Museum collection meets library catalog in Trove Seb Chan writes: “The National Library of Australia’s Trove is one of those projects that you come to understand just how important it is only after it is built and live in the world. At its most basic, Trove provides a metasearch of disparate library collections across Australia, as well as the cultural collections of the National Library itself. Being an aggregator, it brings together a number of different National Library products that used to exist independently, such as the very popular Picture Australia.”... Fresh + New(er), Nov. 8

Decoding medieval and renaissance iconography This online exhibition at the Reed Gallery of the Dunedin Public Libraries in New Zealand sheds some

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

light on the meaning of signs and symbols in medieval artwork and illustration. Iconography was adopted by early printers who incorporated symbolic meaning into their devices. One of the most famous was the festina lente (“make haste slowly”) dolphin and anchor of the Aldine Press in Venice. The images and symbols displayed in this “Signs and Symbols” exhibition are becoming less and less recognizable outside academic circles.... Dunedin (N.Z.) Public Libraries

Search using your terms, verbatim Corin Anderson writes: “Behind the simplicity of Google search is a complex set of algorithms that expands and improves the query you’ve typed to find the best results. Automatic spelling correction ([vynal] to ‘vinyl’) and substituting synonyms (matching [pictures] to ‘photos’) are just two examples of the improvements we make. But in some rare cases, we don’t find what you were looking for. So starting November 15, with the Verbatim tool on, we’ll use the exact words you entered without making normal improvements.”... Google Inside Search, Nov. 15

Search Google Books by ISSN Jonathan Rochkind writes: “Turns out Google Books does support searching by ISSN, using ordinary fielded search syntax, although I don’t believe it’s documented anywhere. Mostly what you’ll find is digitized bound journals from libraries (that is, digitization of some volumes of the journal, probably not all of them, which may or may not have full-text access). Sometimes things that physically look like monographs but are published serially also get ISSNs. Google Books also has to have ISSN metadata for the record.”... Bibliographic Wilderness, Nov. 15

Art librarianship Annie Pho writes: “Many of us start out library school with a particular area of focus in mind. Mine was art libraries, and while I have explored other areas of librarianship, this one is still of interest to me. There are many ways to be an art librarian. Think about all the ways our society learns about art and imagine a librarian there to help with the process. Here are a few good resources for students who are interested in art librarianship.”... Hack Library School, Nov. 14

Law firms and librarians: They need each other Chuck Lowry writes: “Vendors have an almost unique perspective on law firm librarians. We are sometimes partners, sometimes adversaries; sometimes you use us and sometimes we use you; we are often friends; it is undeniably true that we cannot live without you, nor you without us. If I were to have a group of law firm administrators in front of me, with members chosen from job titles such as CFO, COO, CIO, or CEO, here is what I would tell them about the role their librarians play with information vendors and their products and practices.”... On Firmer Ground, Nov. 10

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

Stuttgart’s new Rubik’s cube library Helen Morgan writes: “Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart is definitely not your run-of-the-mill German city library. This modern architectural masterpiece designed by Eun Young Yi is a colossal new building that opened to the public in October. Taking on the form of a giant, two-toned Rubik’s cube, the glowing design is a beacon for architecture and book lovers alike. The structure’s façade looks like a formation of colorful glowing cubes, while inside the space contrasts with a simple and minimalist style.”... Inhabitat, Nov. 14

Where to find new research papers Roddy MacLeod writes: “Here I’ve listed 30 freely available websites and services that help anyone find details of new scholarly research. These are services that link directly to research papers, reports, conference papers, preprints, or theses that have appeared in journals, institutional repositories, or elsewhere—and especially services that produce RSS feeds, because RSS can be an excellent facility for keeping up-to-date.”... Roddy MacLeod’s Blog, Nov. 10

APPitic: A learning app directory Joyce Valenza writes: “I just discovered APPitic, a supercool directory of more than 1,300 apps for education, selected by a team of four Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) who tested the apps with a variety of different grade levels, instructional strategies, and classroom settings. Browse for relevant learning apps using pull-down menus under the broad categories of Preschool, Themes, Multiple Intelligences, and Bloom’s Taxonomy.”... School Library Journal: NeverEndingSearch, Nov. 13

Three useful bookmarking sites Corina Mackay writes: “Bookmarking is a great way to save things for later follow-up or to revisit on a regular basis. While your browser’s built-in bookmarks make for a quick and easy visit to your favorite sites, external bookmarking sites can extend to images, quotes, and articles. If you use bookmarks often, you may need a better way to organize them and incorporate them effectively into your workday. Here are three helpful tools.”... Social Media Examiner, Nov. 10

How to keep patrons away from you Will Manley writes: “In my working days I noticed that the most stressful places to work in the library were children’s, circulation, and reference. The common thread here is patrons. Aren’t they a pain? Think how much more fun it would be if we just kept the patrons out of the building. You can only have one staff development day a year, so how do you keep patrons away from your desk when they are allowed to enter the building? Here are some suggestions.”... Will Unwound, Nov. 11

RedMan at the McCracken County library

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 16, 2011

This library promotional video (0:31) exhorts patrons to “get well-read” at the McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, Kentucky. However, one wonders if it will also encourage people to dress up in weird costumes and throw books around.... YouTube, Nov. 11

Go back to the Top

Sign up to receive AL Direct every Wednesday here. American Libraries Magazine, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/111611-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:27 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Dallas Update Division News Awards & Grants Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | November 23, 2011 Books & Reading Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar

American Libraries Online

Penguin week: When licenses attack! Late-breaking news: Penguin has restored Get for Kindle ebooks (the backlist, but not new releases) until the end of the year only, Fun fact: The precursor pending a redefined agreement. Christopher to the Gay, Lesbian, Harris writes: “Sharks are usually considered Bisexual, Transgender the scariest beasts in the sea, but this week Round Table had a kissing penguins are giving their toothy water friends a booth (called “Hug a run for their money. On November 21, Penguin took back its ebooks Homosexual”) at ALA and left OverDrive and libraries who had purchased Penguin books Annual Conference in through that service standing around wondering what happened. But Dallas in June 1971. See new information raises some critical questions about how and why the photo in the New this happened. OverDrive’s role in this could have more serious York Public Library Digital implications. ALA President-Elect Maureen Sullivan released a timely Gallery. and hard-hitting statement November 22 that took Penguin, OverDrive, and Amazon to task for restricting readers’ access to books.” ALA’s Carrie Russell, Nora Rawlinson, Matt Weaver, Laura Hazard Owen, and Bobbi Newman also weigh in on the situation.... AL: E-Content, Nov. 22–23; Associated Press, Nov. 23; Publishers Weekly, Nov. 23; ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, Nov. 22; Digital Library Blog, Nov. 21; District Dispatch, Nov. 22–23; EarlyWord, Nov. 22; Library Renewal, Nov. 22; paidContent, Nov. 22; Librarian by Day, Nov. 22

Wide backlash greets internet antipiracy bill Groups from both ends of the political spectrum —and everything in between—have come out against a congressional bill that would require internet service providers to police users’ online activities for potential copyright infringement. What’s more, it would empower the U.S. attorney general to order the removal from the domain name system of any website that “engages in, enables, or facilitates” infringement. Introduced October 26 by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261) has a number of high-profile supporters. Among them are Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante, who said that without SOPA, “the U.S. http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

copyright system will ultimately fail.”... American Libraries news, Nov. 22; Ars Technica, Nov. 16

Talking turkey about school libraries Beverly Goldberg writes: “An online petition is demanding that the Obama administration mandate the full funding and staffing of school libraries. The petition was initiated by a teacher-librarian in California who must really mean business since she calls for the ‘immediate withdrawal of all federal monies’ from any school that fails to comply. Since the one sure-fire predictor of a student’s academic success is attending a school with a fully funded and staffed school library, why haven’t policymakers taken heed?”... AL: Inside Scoop, Nov. 23

Thanksgiving Week serves up net neutrality The concept of net neutrality became a reality November 20, when long-sought rules slipped into effect to protect equitable access to online content. However, an unresolved lawsuit filed by Verizon in January continues to challenge the underlying principles codified by the Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, FCC regulations (PDF file) forbid mobile and fixed telecommunications providers from blocking or delaying the transmission of constitutionally protected content or online devices for any reason.... American Libraries news, Nov. 23

Youth Matters: Reach out through outreach Abby Johnson writes: “Some of the most important library work I do is outside the library’s walls. Outreach—traveling offsite to bring service to potential users—is essential to serving my community and especially its children. Outreach allows librarians to put a friendly face on library services and to meet our patrons where they are (which is all the more important when you’re serving children who don’t have their own means of transportation to the library).”... American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

Bookamania in Chicago More than 7,000 children and parents filled the Winter Garden at Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center November 19 for Bookamania, CPL’s annual celebration of children’s books and authors. Participants included Chicago Bear Israel Idonije (right) reading to the kids, as well as authors Nina Crews, Arthur Dorros, and Robert Burleigh.... AL Focus, Nov. 21

Book-themed nuptials Rhonda Puntney Gould, youth services and special needs consultant at Lakeshores Library System in Waterford, Wisconsin, and her betrothed Michael (right) shared nuptials October 29 at Racine (Wis.) Public Library. The ceremony, dinner, and dance were all held at the library, with a book-themed cake. Gould is president of the Wisconsin Library

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Association and a member of ALA’s governing Council.... AL Focus, Nov. 22 ALA News

National STEM Video Game Challenge The National STEM Video Game Challenge opened November 21, aiming to motivate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games. The annual competition is accepting submissions of original video game concepts and designs from students and educators in four categories (middle school, high school, collegiate, and educator) through March 12. ALA is participating as an outreach partner this year.... OLOS Columns, Nov. 21

Media focus shines on National Gaming Day As hundreds of libraries across the country celebrated the fourth annual National Gaming Day @ your library on November 12, a variety of media outlets took notice and highlighted the programs and events happening in their own communities. Participating libraries held a variety of gaming activities including board games, role playing games, an international “Epic Super Smash Bros. Brawl” tournament, and a retro 30th anniversary Frogger contest.... Public Information Office, Nov. 22

Empower your community at the Advocacy Institute “Mobilizing Community Support for Your Library” is the focus of the Advocacy Institute Workshop at the ALA 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. The workshop will focus on engaging and mobilizing friends and trustee groups, opinion-makers, and civic organizations to support all types of libraries. Presenters include Jennifer Martin, Ed Palmer, and Rocco Staino. The institute will take place January 20.... Office for Library Advocacy, Nov. 22

Ingrid Abrams named ALSC Emerging Leader ALSC has chosen Ingrid Abrams (right) of the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library as its representative in ALA’s 2012 Emerging Leader program. As a children’s librarian, Abrams makes a difference in the lives of users of her local branch library every day. As an Emerging Leader, Abrams will attend the 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, as well as the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California.... ALSC, Nov. 22

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Reforma selects its Emerging Leader Reforma has selected Alicia Long (right), library assistant at the State College of Florida and a recent MLIS graduate from the University of South Florida, for the 2012 ALA Emerging Leaders program. Long was a 2009 ALA Spectrum Scholar. In addition to her new position at the State College of Florida, she currently serves as recording secretary for the newly reactivated Reforma de Florida Chapter.... Office for Diversity, Nov. 22

Submit a poster session proposal for Annual Conference Poster sessions will be held on June 23–24 (Saturday and Sunday) of the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. They are an effective forum for the exchange of information and a means to communicate ideas, research, and programs. Submit your proposal by January 6.... ALA Poster Sessions, Nov. 22

An eye-opening look at graphic novels Many educators now agree that graphic novels “Crunch, crunch, inform as well as entertain, and to dismiss their crunch, his feet sank educational potential is to throw away a golden into the snow.” The opportunity to reach out to young readers. Graphic Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Novels in Your School Library by Jesse Karp and Keats’s classic story of illustrated by Rush Kress, is a one-stop resource Peter, who treks with the school library at center stage. Published through his by ALA Editions, the book explores the ways in neighborhood into the which graphic novels can be used in the library and deep, deep snow, is in the classroom.... now a Timeless ALA Editions, Nov. 21 Treasures poster. Peter’s adventures making a snow angel, packing a snowball, and taking a cozy hot bath evoke the simple pleasures of being a child in winter. This vibrantly illustrated Caldecott Medal winner celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. NEW! From ALA Graphics. Featured review: Historical fiction Stachniak, Eva. The Winter Palace. Jan. 2012. 436p. Bantam (978-0-553-80812-4). New this week Polish-Canadian author Stachniak’s brilliant, in American bold historical novel of 18th-century Russia Libraries is a masterful account of one woman’s progress toward absolute monarchical rule. For Catherine the Great, the path to her eventual coup d’état involves 20 years of subtle strategizing, intelligence gathering, and patience. Born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, this “pale, appealing sliver of a girl” arrives in St. Petersburg in 1743 as a potential bride for Peter, Empress Elizabeth’s weak-willed nephew and heir....

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

The Booklist interview: Karen Armstrong Youth Matters Ilene Cooper writes: “Karen E-Content Armstrong has long been recognized as one of the world’s most thoughtful and insightful writers about religion. Included Censorship Watch in her books are A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (1993); Jerusalem: One City, Currents Three Faiths (1996); Buddha (2001); Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time (2006); and The Bible: A Biography (2007). In Perpetual Beta November 2007, Armstrong learned that she had won a prize. Each year the nonprofit organization TED (Technology, Inside Scoop Entertainment, Design) honors a person who has made a difference in the world. There is a monetary award, but, more Ask the ALA important, each winner is given ‘One Wish to Change the Librarian World.’ Armstrong knew what she wanted her wish to be. Booklist spoke to Karen Armstrong by phone at her home in Solutions and London.”... Services

What happens when you AL Focus invite a Booklist editor to your book launch Daniel Kraus writes: “Being celebrated by the literati as the most venerable of Great Libraries critics, we editors are inevitably invited of the World to stand before the assembled gala crowd, looking smashing in our tuxes and holding our martinis, to give our opinion of the about-to-be-published book. Sometimes this goes well. Other times it goes really, really, really badly. To give you an idea, take this scene from the 1964 film Youngblood Hawke (above), based on the excellent Herman Wouk novel, which is itself loosely based on the life of Thomas Wolfe.”...

@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Weimar, Germany. The library, a public Dallas Update research center for German literature and The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library art and music history, is named for Anna The Dallas Public Library’s downtown facility at 1515 Amalia, duchess of Young Street, named in honor of former mayor J. Saxe-Weimar- Erik Jonsson, opened in 1982. Its eight floors Eisenach, who feature many permanent exhibits, including an arranged in 1766 for original broadside print of the Declaration of the books belonging to Indepedence, a Shakespeare First Folio, a collection the ducal court to be of Navajo blankets, celestial globes, a scale model moved into her of a Viking ship, and art by Harry Bertoia, Robert remodeled residence. Rauschenberg, and Barbara Hepworth (right). Self-guided tours (PDF A major part of the file) are permitted during open hours....

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

collection was Dallas Public Library destroyed or severely Preserving the legacy of Robert damaged by a fire in September 2004. The Johnson Rococo hall was A Dallas church has purchased the site where restored and reopened legendary bluesman Robert Johnson made his final in 2007, along with a few recordings. In June, the First Presbyterian modern reading room Church of Dallas bought 508 Park Avenue, the called a “Book Cube”; dilapidated, three-story, Zig-Zag Moderne downtown some of the damaged building where Johnson recorded almost half of the volumes have now 29 songs that make up his entire discography. The been replaced or church plans to renovate it in 2012, creating a restored. cultural center complete with a museum, a performance space, an art studio, and a music education center called The Spirit of the Blues. Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues” (2:38) was recorded here on June 20, 1937, in the former Brunswick Records studio on the top floor.... New York Times, Nov. 19; Dallas Observer, May 16; YouTube, May 27, 2007

Gifts for the compact traveler As airlines continue to hike fees for checked bags and overweight suitcases, fitting everything into one compact bag—whether it is a carry-on or a lightweight suitcase—is more important than ever. Spotting an opportunity, luggage and accessory makers have introduced a host of Francke Foundations new packing products. Here are 12 gift ideas for practical Historical Library, travelers on the go.... Halle, Germany. New York Times: Practical Traveler, Nov. 21 Founded as a charity in 1695 by the Pietist cleric August Hermann Francke, the Francke Division News Foundations possess a library with a strong emphasis on religious Perfect for holiday giving and cultural history. Do you have someone on your holiday gift list that The collection, which loves YA books? Do you know someone that is a includes a cabinet of Michael L. Printz Award aficionado? If so, then the curiosities, has been 2012 YALSA Michael L. Printz Award calendar is the housed in a well- perfect item to put on your holiday gift-giving list. preserved building The calendar is filled with information about Printz dating from 1728. authors and other YALSA award winners. Each month sports a high-quality image of the cover of a Printz- This AL Direct feature winning title.... showcases 250 libraries YALSA Blog, Nov. 22 around the world that are notable for their exquisite architecture, historic Eleven preconferences at PLA collections, and innovative Attendees at the 2012 PLA Conference in Philadelphia services. If you find yourself will have an opportunity to get a head start on on vacation near one of professional development before the conference is them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be fully underway. On March 13–14, 11 preconferences available in The Whole for public library administrators, managers, and staff Library Handbook 5, edited will offer practical education in a focused and by George M. Eberhart, which interactive environment. Several are a perfect fit for is scheduled for publication in 2013 by ALA Editions. public library trustees as well. These intensive programs range in length from half a day to a day and a half and feature knowledgeable, professional instructors.... PLA, Nov. 21

ACRL offers e-Learning scholarships ACRL is offering e-Learning scholarships to help librarians, library

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

staff, and library school students stretch their professional development dollars. Fifteen e-Learning scholarships will be awarded, 10 covering the registration cost of a webcast and five covering the cost of an online course. Scholarships can be redeemed for ACRL e- Learning events offered between February 1 and August 31, 2012. The application deadline is December 8.... ACRL, Nov. 21

Graphic novel webinar will help you reach tween readers Tween readers have shown a healthy appetite for graphic novels, but finding age-appropriate materials for middle schoolers can be difficult. Discover how you can build a great graphic novel collection for your Career Leads middle-grade readers in YALSA’s December 15 webinar, “Graphic from Novels and Teen Readers,” presented by Robin Brenner. Brenner will discuss company age ratings and how the savvy librarian can demystify the variety of ratings that exist. Registration is now open.... YALSA, Nov. 22 Dean of the Library, Easily integrate technology into your library University of Texas at Technology is part of the everyday life experience for most teens— Arlington. Provides and by integrating it with standard teen services, librarians can better administrative serve and support teens’ learning needs. Find out how in “Connect, leadership for a system Create, Collaborate: Supporting Teen Needs with Technology,” a new of three campus online course offered in winter 2012 by YALSA. The self-paced course libraries and eight takes place February 6 to March 19 and will be taught by Linda program areas within Braun.... the Library. The dean YALSA, Nov. 21 reports to the provost and vice president for Linked data and the Semantic Web at the ALCTS academic affairs and Symposium serves on the appropriate academic, “Libraries, Linked Data and the Semantic Web: Positioning Our technological, and Catalogs to Participate in the 21st-Century Global Information administrative councils. Marketplace,” the ALCTS Midwinter Symposium, brings together the The dean will provide leading experts in the fields of linked library data and the Semantic strategic planning and Web in Dallas on January 20. The speakers will be Peter Brantley, policy direction in the Karen Coyle, Corey A. Harper, Eric Miller, and Ross Singer. You can areas of collection register for the symposium through the ALA Midwinter Meeting development, public registration site.... and technical services, ALCTS, Nov. 21 facilities planning, and Go back to the Top personnel policy, and is responsible for the coordination of the Awards & Grants branch campus libraries in conjunction with the managers of those National Friends of Libraries Week Awards libraries.... ALTAFF is accepting applications for the National Friends of Libraries Week Awards through December 1. For the fifth year, awards will be given to Friends groups in conjunction with National Friends of Libraries Week, which was held October 16–22. Two awards of $250 will be given to groups in recognition of activities held during the week. Applicants must provide a one- to two-page summary of all activities and efforts.... ALTAFF, Nov. 21

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Nominations sought for 2012 Madison awards @ More jobs... The ALA Washington Office is calling for nominations for two awards to honor those who have championed public access to government information and the public’s right to know. The James Madison Award celebrates an individual or group who has brought awareness to these Digital Library issues at the national level, and the Eileen Cooke State and Local of the Week Madison Award honors a leader who has built grassroots awareness of the importance of access to information. The deadline for nominations is December 30.... District Dispatch, Nov. 24

Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award ALA is currently accepting nominations The Alwin C. Carus for the Gale Cengage Learning Financial Coin Collection was Development Award, given to a public, school, or academic library for donated to Hillsdale carrying out a financial development project to secure new funding (Mich.) College by resources. The award includes $2,500 and a gold-framed citation.... Alwin C. Carus of La Office of ALA Governance, Nov. 22 Salle, Illinois. It is a large collection that Libraries selected to build contains a broad range of coins and currency, learning labs for teens including coins from The Institute of Museum and Library Services ancient Greece, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Macedon, and Rome, Foundation announced the first 12 winners of medieval English coins, a national grant competition to build 21st- Byzantine coins, century learning labs in libraries and Islamic coins, Chinese museums around the country. The winners—eight libraries and four coins and currency, museums—will receive a total of $1.2 million in grants to plan and United States coins, design the labs. Inspired by YOUMedia, the teen space at Chicago and coins from all over Public Library, as well as innovations in science and technology the world, including centers, these labs will help young people move beyond consuming Australia, Brazil, content to making and creating it.... Canada, France, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Nov. 17 Germany, Great Britain, India, Mexico, Salem Press launches the Library Russia, and many Grants Center others. Salem Press has launched the Library Grants Center, a free web tool to help librarians Do you know of a digital navigate the world of library grants. Its website library collection that we can says: “At a time when the word ‘library’ is mention in this AL Direct inseparable from the phrase ‘budget cuts,’ librarians need help finding feature? Tell us about it. Browse previous Digital help. So we scoured the web in search of free funding for libraries Libraries of the Week at the I and discovered that the options extend far beyond national and state Love Libraries site. opportunities. Hundreds of grants are available to libraries of all types from local foundations, family trusts, small and large corporations, professional organizations, and the publishing community.”... Salem Press, Nov. 16

2011 National Book Award winners The National Book Foundation announced the winners of the 2011 National Book Awards on November 16, bestowing the fiction award on Jesmyn Ward, author of Salvage the Bones (Bloomsbury USA), which chronicles 12 days in the life of a poor African-American family attempting to weather Hurricane Katrina in coastal Public Mississippi. The nonfiction award went to Stephen Greenblatt for his book The Swerve: How the World Perception How the World

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Became Modern (W. W. Norton), about a 15th-century book lover who almost singlehandedly spawned the Renaissance’s rediscovery of Sees Us classicism.... Washington Post, Nov. 16 “The internet is an accumulation; a National Book Award for Young People’s library is order. I have nothing against

Literature the electronic Mark Flowers writes: “Congratulations to Thanhha Lai, library, it’s just not a who was named the winner of the National Book replacement for the Award for Young People’s Literature on Wednesday for library of ink and her verse novel Inside Out & Back Again. There’s a paper.” great interview with Lai on the National Book

Foundation website. After all the controversy last —Argentine-born Canadian month over the Young People’s Literature nominations writer Alberto Manguel, (see our initial coverage and a follow-up), it was easy to forget there interviewed in the Ottawa was still a winner to be chosen, but hopefully now we move the focus (Ont.) Citizen, Nov. 20. to where it belongs: debating whether the right book won.”... YALSA The Hub, Oct. 17–18, Nov. 18 @ More quotes... Neil Jordan takes novel of the year at Irish Book Awards Neil Jordan’s Mistaken has been named novel of the year at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2011 in Dublin. The film director, who won an Academy Award for The Crying Game, clinched his prize at the awards ceremony, held November 17. Mistaken tells Resources for Caregivers: the tale of two Irish boys who bear an uncanny 'Who has time to read when physical resemblance to each other. They come of age you’re going through all in the Dublin of the 1960s. One attends a good school, that stuff?' the other does not. One lives in south Dublin, has a solicitor for a father, and aspires to a serious literary career. The other does not. Later, the confusions caused by their likeness grow increasingly complex and sinister.... TheBookseller.com, Nov. 18; The Guardian (U.K.), Jan. 14

Winton Prize for Science Books Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, was awarded the £10,000 ($15,640 U.S.) Connect with your kids: A Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books DIY Guide to Holiday Gift November 17 for his latest observations on laid-back Giving @ your library living, The Wavewatcher’s Companion (Bloomsbury). ACC Basketball Is Still the The book explores all types of wave, not just the ones Best you find on the water—everything from sound waves to light waves, brain waves, Mexican (stadium) waves, Trailers from Hell! waves of traffic, and waves of emotion.... Great Songs and the Artists The Independent (U.K.), Nov. 18 Who Created Them: 'Baby, I Need Your Loving'

Seen Online How to Find a Great Job: Entry-Level Workers and Career-Changers Huffington Post debuts new Fracking: Energy Bonanza Libraries in Crisis series or Environmental Debacle? Nora Rawlinson writes: “A new series, Libraries in Crisis, debuted in by Wanda Urbanska the Huffington Post in mid-November. As described by Books Editor Andrew Losowsky, it will look at ‘how today’s libraries are about more than books [ed note: oops, someone neglected to communicate this Join Us on Facebook to the logo designer], and how they can be a community resource where reliable information and guidance is provided, free of bias and Subscribe to our Newsletter commercial influence.’”... EarlyWord: The Publisher | Librarian Connection, Nov. 21 http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

How will we read: In public libraries? C. M. Rubin writes: “Libraries across the United States need our help as they are being closed or having significant cuts made to their budgets. The public library service has affected each of us at some point in our lives whether as a child, a student, or as an adult. So before you read my interview with ALA President Molly Raphael, take a moment to look at 10 important things you need to know about our American libraries.”... Calendar Huffington Post, Nov. 21

Video loans on the rise in libraries Dec. 4–9: Video lending has exploded during the past five years, rising at a far Special Libraries higher rate than the lending of books or audio, according to Association Military information from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Libraries Division, Video lending statewide more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, Military Libraries from 6.6 million videos to 14.1 million. People like to borrow from Workshop, Norfolk, libraries because it saves them money over Netflix or other Virginia. “Riding the services.... Information Wave.” Boston Globe, Nov. 24 Dec. 7–9: Occupy Wall Street librarians hold Specialized press conference Information The volunteers who organized the People’s Library Publishers during the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in Association, Annual New York’s Zuccotti Park held a press conference Marketing Conference, November 23 with renowned civil rights attorney Eden Roc Renaissance Norman Siegel to discuss the library’s removal by Hotel, Miami Beach, New York police. The library demanded that the Florida. city replace every missing book and provide a space to recreate the library. Staff and patrons Dec. 10: from the library gave testimony. An Occupy Wall International Human Street statement read: “So far, the People’s Library has received Rights Day. 1,099 books back (right) from the Dept. of Sanitation after last week’s raid (some of which were not library books to begin with), and Dec. 12–13: out of these, about 800 are still usable. About 2,900 books are still Coalition for unaccounted for, and less than one-fifth of the original collection is Networked still usable.”... Information, Fall Occupy Wall Street Library blog, Nov. 22–23; LibraryThing; Metro, Nov. 23; Washington Membership Meeting, Post: Blog, Nov. 23 Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Nashville’s Limitless Libraries Virginia. draws interest nationwide An agreement between the city school district Jan. 20–24: and the Nashville (Tenn.) Public Library called American Library Limitless Libraries is drawing new attention. Association, Metro middle and high schoolers can use their Midwinter Meeting, home or school computers to check out books, DVDs, and CDs from Dallas. the public library and have them delivered to their schools. Library officials in New York City, Boston, and St. Paul, Minnesota, have Feb. 1–3: called Metro in recent months, interested in implementing similar Association of initiatives. Limitless Libraries is sending more than 7,000 items a American Publishers month to Metro schools and circulation has increased as much as Professional 140%.... Scholarly Publishing, Nashville Tennessean, Nov. 21 Annual Conference, Mayflower Hotel, Ontario school board rejects book ban Washington, D.C. An award-winning Canadian novel, which one parent “Prospering with wanted removed from classrooms for what she called http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Digital: Making exploitive sexual references, will stay on an Ontario Investments Pay.” school board’s list of approved books. Carolyn Waddell wanted the Bluewater public school board to ban Timothy Findley’s The Wars, complaining about the Feb. 8–9: International book’s explicit, detailed descriptions of often violent Association of School sexual encounters. In mid-November, trustees Librarianship / endorsed a report by Bluewater’s textbook appeals Zimbabwe Library committee, which recommends keeping The Wars on Association, Regional the board’s list of approved, optional teaching materials.... Quebecor Media Inc. Agency, Nov. 17 School Library Seminar, Banned books now available in Masiyephambili College, Bulawayo, Libya Zimbabwe. “School For decades the late Libyan dictator Libraries in Africa in Moammar Gadhafi kept a tight grip on power the 21st Century: and public information. Now for the first Learning from Each time, books banned by the regime are on Other.” display in Tripoli, opening a door that was closed for many years. Some of the banned books are on topics like homosexuality or human rights in the Arab world, but the regime’s Mar. 21–23: Computers in ban was mostly on books of a religious nature, like those on Libraries, Conference, Wahabbism and others on the Salafi movement. Watch the video Hilton Washington, (2:06).... CNN, Nov. 21; KTHV-TV, Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 21 D.C.

Thanksgiving by the numbers Mar. 29– Steve Barnes writes: “Some stats, courtesy of the Census Bureau: Apr. 2: 248 million: The number of turkeys expected to be raised in the Art Libraries Society United States in 2011. That’s up 2% from the number raised during of North America, 2010. The turkeys produced in 2010 together weighed 7.11 billion Annual Conference, pounds and were valued at $4.37 billion. 2.4 billion pounds: The Sheraton Centre, total weight of sweet potatoes—a popular Thanksgiving side dish— Toronto. “Colouring produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2010. North Outside the Lines.” Carolina (972 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state.”... Apr. 11–14: Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union: Table Hopping, Nov. 17 Popular Culture Association / UK court rules library closures unlawful American Culture Campaigners attempting to stop the closure of local libraries in the Association, Annual United Kingdom won a surprise victory in the high court November 16 Conference, Boston when a judge ruled that the decision to ax services in Gloucestershire Marriott Copley Place. and Somerset was unlawful and should be annulled. Judge Martin McKenna found that local authorities had failed to comply with their Apr. 17–20: public sector equality duties when pushing through the closures and Texas Library ordered the councils to revisit their plans.... Association, Annual The Guardian (U.K.), Nov. 16 Conference, Houston. “Relevant, Responsive, Librarian in Black finds cult fame Revolutionary, Right Sarah Houghton, the new acting director of the San Rafael (Calif.) Now.” Public Library, has cultivated an international reputation as the edgy, darkly attired, tattooed author of the Librarian in Black blog. She Apr. 24–27: launched the blog in December 2003 to filter relevant tech news to Alabama Library other digital librarians. It has evolved into a platform for her thinking Association, Annual on a range of subjects, such as vegan cooking, household gadgets, Convention, Wynfrey her cats Dorian and Fiona, and the way women who speak in public Hotel, Hoover. can get stalked and harassed.... Novato (Calif.) Marin Independent Journal, Nov. 20

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

June 10–14: Facebook reduces degrees of Association for separation Computing Machinery/IEEE Adding a new chapter to the research that Computer Society, cemented the phrase “six degrees of separation” Joint Conference on into the language, scientists at Facebook and the Digital Libraries, University of Milan reported November 21 that George Washington the average number of acquaintances separating University, any two people in the world was not six but 4.74. The original “six Washington, D.C. degrees” finding, published in 1967 by the psychologist Stanley “#preserving #linking Milgram, was drawn from 296 volunteers. The new research used a #using #sharing.” slightly bigger cohort: 721 million Facebook users.... New York Times, Nov. 21; Facebook Data Team, Nov. 21 Sept. 19–23: Detroit Public Library to close four Joint Conference of branch locations Librarians of Color, Kansas City, Missouri. At its meeting on November 15, the Detroit “Gathering at the Library Commission approved the closure of Waters: Celebrating four of the city’s 23 branch libraries. The Stories, Embracing branches approved for closure, effective Communities.” December 22, are Lincoln, Mark Twain, Monteith, and Richard (above). The commission pointed to declining property values and the shrinking population of the city (PDF file). The library is funded by a @ More... millage, but revenue has declined 12% each year for the past three years and is expected to continue to decline for the next three years.... Crain’s Detroit Business, Nov. 17; Detroit Public Libary, Nov. 15 Contact Us American Libraries Former Bettendorf director won’t face charges Direct The Scott County, Iowa, attorney’s office will not file criminal charges against former Bettendorf Library Director Steven Nielsen after investigating allegations that he acted improperly in his leadership role of the RiverShare library consortium as it looked for a new software system. The group voted in March to award a contract to AL Direct is a free electronic Polaris Library Systems. Nielsen announced in August that he was newsletter emailed every accepting a job with Polaris, and competitor SirsiDynix filed a Wednesday to personal members of the American complaint alleging ethical impropriety.... Library Association and Davenport (Iowa) Quad-City Times, Nov. 17 subscribers. New Zealand library in dispute over Koha trademark Koha is a free, open-source library management system created by the Horowhenua Library George M. Eberhart, Trust, a New Zealand public library. This software has been the Editor: subject of an ongoing fight with LibLime, a U.S. company that wants [email protected] to make the software proprietary. Now Horowhenua is asking for funds to support an expected legal battle. Library Director Joann Ransom says LibLime has been only been granted provisional rights to the name Koha by the Ministry of Economic Development.... LWN.net, Nov. 22; Koha Library Software Community, Nov. 21; Radio New Zealand, Nov. Beverly Goldberg, 22 Senior Editor: [email protected] Fired clerk sues Huntington Beach library A deaf woman with cerebral palsy claims she was wrongfully fired from her job as a clerk in the Huntington Beach (Calif.) Public Library. A response from the city lists more than 25 reasons the city is not responsible for Merrie Sager’s firing, saying she did not go through Greg Landgraf, Associate Editor: proper channels to report any alleged discrimination or harassment. [email protected] Sager is accused of throwing a book, yelling, and making an inappropriate hand gesture. She is suing for lost wages and emotional http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

distress.... Orange County (Calif.) Register, Nov. 17

Sanhita SinhaRoy, Waterloo map librarians create Associate Editor: historical street map [email protected] Staffers at the University of Waterloo’s Map Jennifer Henderson, Library have painstakingly overlaid 1955 Contributing Researcher street maps of the Waterloo, Ontario, region onto modern Google Earth images, creating To advertise in American a digital database that shows with stunning clarity how much the area Libraries Direct, contact: has changed and expanded in a half century. The street map is the latest phase in an ongoing project to document local visual history. The first phase scanned over 2,000 aerial photos of the region from the 1930s–1950s. The maps were built by Steven Xu and a team of part-time workers at the library over a period of several years.... Doug Lewis: Waterloo (Ont.) Record, Nov. 15 [email protected]

Would you like a book with that wine? Red wine and cheese. Red wine and chocolate. Red wine and a good book. Port Townsend (Wash.) Library Director Theresa Percy proposed a novel idea for a fundraiser: Katie Bane: [email protected] Release a limited edition of wine, with sales going to the

city library and the county library. “It will mean around Send feedback: $7,000 for the libraries,” said Richard Sorensen, a local [email protected] winemaker who agreed to donate a barrel of 2005 “Library Red” cabernet after being approached by Percy.... AL Direct FAQ: Peninsula Daily News (Wash.), Nov. 15 americanlibrariesmagazine .org/aldirect

Librarian was one of the first to try penicillin All links outside the ALA For 10 years, Lydia Bogner had been crippled by osteomyelitis. But website are provided for one day in 1943 she was given the gift of a new medicine called informational purposes only. penicillin. It was a gift from a cousin who had worked on this new Questions about the content wonder drug and was given a special wedding present by the Eli Lilly of any external site should be addressed to the pharmaceutical company to offer penicillin to someone who might administrator of that site. qualify for its use. Bogner went on to become the medical records librarian at Mansfield (Ohio) General Hospital for 28 years.... Sign up to receive AL Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal, Nov. 20 Direct every Wednesday here. Few visitors to Baghdad’s American Corner American Libraries In a nook of the library at Baghdad University, sturdy histories of the 50 E. Huron St. American Revolution and the Vietnam War line up next to Alexis de Chicago, IL 60611 Tocqueville and John Updike. Yet, the readers never come. As far as Website Kamal Yunis, a research librarian who oversees what is formally called 800-545-2433, the American Corner, can tell, no student has ever opened one of the ext. 4216 books. The collection was assembled by the American Embassy and is ISSN 1559-369X an example of the sort of cultural programs the State Department will emphasize after the troops leave.... New York Times, Nov. 22

Madrid to streamline its city and regional libraries Jennifer Riggins writes: “After three years of negotiations, Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón of Madrid, Spain, and regional president (similar to a governor) Esperanza Aguirre are nearing an agreement to merge the municipal and regional libraries. There are 16 regional libraries and 29 city libraries that maintain essentially the same catalogs and are often located near each other. A merger would create a uniform

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

library catalog across the city.”... SmartPlanet, Nov. 22

Go back to the Top Tech Talk

Nook’s specs are exaggerated, again David Pogue writes: “I’ve always been a little bothered by the way the Nook is advertised—or at least suspicious. Last year, I caught Barnes & Noble misreporting the Nook’s weight. Well, guess what? Barnes & Noble is at it again. On the Nook website, the very first bullet point is, ‘HD movies and TV shows.’ But the Nook’s screen resolution is 1024 by 600 pixels. That’s not even close to high definition.”... New York Times: Pogue’s Posts, Nov. 17

HP is #2 tablet maker in 2011 Nate Hoffelder writes: “A very odd thing happens when you sell a tablet for 80% off the retail price; people go nuts trying to buy it. More than a million tablets were sold in the U.S. in the first nine months of the year, according to a report released by the NPD Group. Analysts also beleive that the 1.2 million tablets brought in more than $415 million in revenue.”... eBookNewser, Nov. 22; NPD Group, Nov. 22

How to buy a cellphone Jamie Lendino writes: “If you thought choosing a cellphone was difficult before, it’s even tougher today. That’s a good thing, though, because it demonstrates how innovation in the wireless industry has skyrocketed. We’re seeing rapid progress across all fronts, including displays, data networks, user interfaces, voice quality, third-party apps, and even mobile gaming. So what should you be looking for when buying a cellphone? Here are some key points to consider.”... PC Magazine, Nov. 16

USB stick brings Android to PCs, TVs Mike Isaac writes: “Google has made no secret about its plans for Android. The company wants Android everywhere. And thanks to FXI Technologies’ Cotton Candy USB device, we may not have to wait long to see Android on more than just our mobile devices. FXI essentially built an ultra-lean computer inside a small USB stick. Stick it into any device that supports USB storage, and Cotton Candy will register as a USB drive. From there, you can run the Android OS in a secure environment inside your desktop.”... Wired: Gadget Lab, Nov. 18

iPad apps for photojournalists Alex Garcia writes: “Search the iTunes store with the term ‘photography’ and you’ll easily get lost among more than a thousand apps. Many apps are useful for professional photographers, such as those for tethered shooting, model releases, and portfolio apps, but they don’t seem crucial for photojournalists. I did find

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

several with interesting functionality for photojournalists that you can’t easily replicate elsewhere. There are also a number of inspirational apps for those long days waiting for politicians or defendants to show up. Here are some that you might consider.”... Chicago Tribune: Assignment Chicago, Nov. 15

The best Kindle Fire apps Jill Duffy writes: “Amazon’s new 7-inch Kindle Fire ($199) is one of the most affordable tablets on the market. If you’re a new Kindle Fire owner, you need a starter kit. The 16 apps that we recommend downloading first are available right in the Amazon Appstore, so you can nab them simply and quickly. Your first dozen or so apps that you install should, in theory, be the ones you end up using the most. But again, because the Amazon Appstore holds only a limited subgroup of the Android apps ever made, the best of the bunch may seem a little lackluster, so far.”... PC Magazine, Nov. 16

Receive emails through your contact lenses A new generation of contact lenses that project images in front of the eyes is one step closer after successful animal trials, say engineers at the University of Washington. The technology could allow wearers to read floating texts and emails or augment their sight with computer- generated images, Terminator-syle. But there are still wrinkles to iron out, like finding a good power source. The researchers describe their computerized contact lens in the latest issue of the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering.... BBC News, Nov. 21; J. Micromech. Microeng. 21 (2011): 125014

GPO releases its first app The U.S. Government Printing Office has released its first mobile app, which provides the public with quick, easy access to information about Members of Congress. Based on the Guide to the House and Senate Members and information in the Congressional Pictorial Directory, the app allows users to browse for Members of Congress by last name, state, chamber, or party. Additionally, users can search by first and last name.... FDLP Desktop, Nov. 15

E-Content

It’s time for a National Digital Public Library Susan Hildreth writes: “I have just returned from the exciting and inspirational conference, ‘Creating a Blueprint for Building a National Digital Public Library.’ Held at the Los Angeles Public Library’s grand Central Library, this was an opportunity for public libraries to become engaged in the creation of the Digital Public Library of America. The DPLA represents the work of many institutions in digitizing a tremendous variety of content and envisions a future where this content and much more is freely available in all libraries and easily discoverable by all.”... UpNext: The IMLS Blog, Nov. 21

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Ebooks in U.S. public libraries In addition to free public access to computers and the internet, public libraries provide their communities with robust electronic collections. One area of significant interest and growth has been the provision of ebooks. Nationwide, 67% of public libraries report offering free access to ebooks to library patrons—up 30% since 2007.... ALA: 2011 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study

OverDrive’s Test Drive program for libraries OverDrive has launched Test Drive, a program for libraries to support the demonstration and lending of ebook reading devices and tablets to their patrons. The program includes device recommendations and guidelines for setup, maintenance, and support, as well as best practices for institutions that want to stock and lend ebook readers and tablets to patrons. OverDrive has also selected the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (Model PRS-T1) as the first “Test Drive Approved” device.... Digital Library Blog, Nov. 22

Kindle device license limits are stupid Jow Wikert writes: “There, I said it. I’m betting most consumers and quite a few publishers don’t realize that Amazon has limits in place to prevent you from loading one Kindle ebook on more than 6 devices within the same account. Once you try to get it onto the 7th device, you are greeted with an error message saying, ‘License Limit Reached,’ and they nudge you to buy another copy of the product. No way. This is yet another example of why DRM sucks.”... Joe Wikert’s Publishing 2020 Blog, Nov. 22

For their children, some ebook fans insist on paper Matt Richtel and Julie Bosman write: “Print books may be under siege from the rise of ebooks, but they have a tenacious hold on a particular group: children and toddlers. Their parents are insisting this next generation of readers spend their early years with old-fashioned books. This is the case even with parents who themselves are die- hard downloaders of books onto Kindles, iPads, laptops, and phones. They freely acknowledge their digital double standard.” But others question the assessment that ebooks are bad for kids.... New York Times, Nov. 20; Digital Book World, Nov. 21

It’s beginning to look a lot like election archiving season Abbie Grotke writes: “The national elections are a year away, but the Library of Congress is already busy archiving presidential campaign websites and preparing to archive House and Senate campaign sites and more starting in March 2012. This actually isn’t the earliest we’ve started: For the 2008 archive we began a full 19 months before the election. We began collecting the presidential campaign sites earlier this month, and our Web Archiving Team is reviewing the results of the crawl. We’ve noticed that some of the sites we started archiving a few weeks ago have already changed their look and feel.”... The Signal: Digital Preservation, Nov. 17

Find your way in a book Nate Hoffelder writes: “Have you ever wondered exactly where in the world an event in a book occurred? Book Drum—a two-year-old community of book lovers working to build a wiki-type collection of information about their favorite books—now has you covered. It recently launched a map feature marked with the key locations from

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

150 books. However, it’s a collection of points, not paths. There are a number of entries for the Grapes of Wrath, but no way to place them in order. But this is still a fun feature. I wouldn’t have known where Interview with a Vampire took place or what the street looked like.”... eBookNewser, Nov. 22

When reading CliffsNotes is too much trouble AOL, Mark Burnett, Coalition Films, and Josh Faure-Brac have joined forces to present to the world CliffsNotes Films—The Fastest Way to Learn. These short, jokey animated films, each narrated by a superhero dork named “Super Cliff,” promise to guide the reader through classic works of literature. The shorts are interactive, including in-video links to related content such as commentary from college professors. There are even “helpful cheats” that allow the viewer to win Shakespeare and Cliff badges. Watch Hamlet here (7:14).... Publishing Perspectives, Nov. 21

What I learned while digitizing our backlist Vicky Hartley, head of digital development for Duncan Baird Publishers, writes: “As simple as e-publishing seems in your head, it’s really quite involved and always more complex than you or anyone else in your company thinks it will be. To start with, the logistics of publishing an ebook are not filled with the most efficient processes. There are different formats, each with their own limitations and eccentricities. Then there are the internal difficulties.”... FutureBook, Nov. 21

Circulating iPads in the Darien children’s library Kiera Parrott writes: “In September, the Darien (Conn.) Library began circulating iPads for use with young children. What began as a ‘Hey-this-would-be- neat-let’s-try-it-and-see-what-happens’ project has evolved into an immensely popular service that has both our patrons and fellow librarians buzzing. What follows will describe how and why we developed this new service, with tips on helping other librarians jump into developing their own model.”... ALSC Blog, Nov. 15

ProQuest business dissertations on ebrary To offer libraries a new avenue for providing patrons with full-text access to scholarly dissertations and theses in a key discipline, ProQuest announced November 22 a new business and economics subscription collection available on the ebrary platform. With a growing selection of more than 2,400 titles, the new Business Dissertations and Theses Collection enables scholars to mine emerging research from world-renowned business schools for new ideas and comparative study.... ebrary, Nov. 22

Go back to the Top Books & Reading

Staking the vampire Maria Kramer writes: “Breaking Dawn, Part 1 premiered

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

November 18, and it’s only a matter of time until Part 2 wraps up the series in a happy little bow. Astute commentators agree that the Twilight saga changed the shape of teen literature, propelling paranormal romance and vampires to the top of the charts. But have the blood-drinking sophisticates overstayed their welcome? The Hub is here to ask the question ‘What next?’ Towards which creature should we direct our adulation—or mockery? Who will put the stake in the vampire trend? Let’s examine the options.”... YALSA The Hub, Nov. 22

D’oh! Neil Gaiman on The Simpsons Geoff Boucher writes: “The Simpsons delivered one of its most ambitious episodes November 20—an elaborate heist spoof that finds Homer, Bart, and guest star Neil Gaiman trying to steal the thunder of today’s megasuccessful publishing series. The episode, titled ‘The Book Job,’ is a parody of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven (and, yes, that is Andy Garcia playing the wealthy, cold- blooded heavy) but it saved its most savage parody for today’s paranormal romances that target young-skewing audiences.” Read an interview with Neil Gaiman about his role in the episode. Sarah Debraski and Gretchen Kolderup discuss the episode.... Los Angeles Times: Hero Complex, Nov. 18; The DeadBolt, Nov. 21; YALSA The Hub, Nov. 23

Nine reasons why publishers should stop acting like libraries are the enemy Bobbi Newman writes: “I know you think that if it weren’t for libraries more people would buy your books. I have bad news for you: If it weren’t for libraries, people would read less and not buy more books. Let’s face it, no one who is willing to spend four months on the waiting list for their favorite author is going to buy that hardback copy and probably not the trade paperback or paperback either. Instead of seeing that library book as money out of your pocket, consider it the gateway drug to your author.”... Librarian by Day, Nov. 23

Tinker, tailor, soldier, plagiarist Tim Vines writes: “There’s been quite a recent buzz about Q. R. Markham’s recently published book Assassin of Secrets, but for all the wrong reasons—it’s apparently plagiarized from a blend of a dozen spy fiction authors including James Bamford, Charles McCarry, and Graham Greene. The author, whose real name is Quentin Rowan, has expressed profound regret, and explains in a comment that it’s all a result of wanting too much, too soon. In fact, he’s never really been into writing his own material, as plagiarism checks on his previous work also show plenty of evidence of cutting and pasting. Little, Brown is in the stew as well, as this is the second book in five years they’ve published that has been found to be largely copied.”... Scholarly Kitchen, Nov. 21; Reluctant Habits, Nov. 8; The Debrief, Nov. 9

Retired Fort Myers librarian now a novelist http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Bill (“Henry”) Hoffman, former director of the Fort Myers–Lee County (Fla.) Public Library, has taken up writing since his 1998 retirement. His new historical novel, Flaherty’s Run (Lachesis), takes the main character, Will Flaherty, on a journey in a bookmobile with his sister Carol and an ex-German prisoner of war named Max, from North Florida to the Keys in 1946. Hoffman forced himself to write a disturbing scene when the bookmobile is stuck in mud and the three characters use books as tools to free the vehicle.... Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press, Nov. 19

Top 10 shocking books about China Zhengyi Mei Mei writes: “China’s history is so vast, its geography so massive, its politics so controversial, and its customs so perplexing, that it was nearly impossible to reduce this list to 10 books. The country’s long record of human rights abuses, rampant government corruption, heartless property confiscation, and categorical censorship of information make China fertile ground for fiction and nonfiction alike. Some of these books are shocking, some scholarly, some simply entertaining, but each reveal a different facet of Chinese culture.”... Listverse, Nov. 18

Bookseller experiments with online handselling Longtime bookseller Roxanne Coady, owner of R. J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut, has unveiled JustTheRightBook.com, a subscription model that aims to wed human-to-human customer service with the convenience of online shopping. This is how it works: Readers take a quiz on the website, which will determine their reading mood. The questions are tame and direct. The answers are studied by R. J. Julia Booksellers staff, who in turn, select a book for the reader.... Publishing Perspectives, Nov. 22

Pie-ology: A full-filling story Jennifer Harbster writes: “Pie season is upon us and I predict that you will be making or buying a pie sometime in the near future. There is something about this delectable dish that provokes childhood memories and many of us have no qualms about stating our opinion on what constitutes the best pie. The A–Z of Food and Drink (2002) suggests that the word pie (pye) first appeared in English in the early 14th century, and by mid- century it became commonplace. Even Geoffrey Chaucer mentions pie in his ‘Cook’s Tale.’”... Inside Adams: Science, Technology, and Business, Nov. 18

The 10 weirdest cookbooks Thanksgiving is almost here, and while most families will roll out the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, a select few out there will get a little adventurous and might dig deep into the cookbook archives. For the sake of the children, hopefully none of them have these cookbooks.... Publishers Weekly: PWxyz, Nov. 22

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Sleuthing a bibliographic mystery Rebecca McCallum writes: “The other day, I discovered a mystery in Special Collections: an extremely skimpy catalog record for a book in our collection. All it said about this book was: ‘Bible. N.T. French [Nouveau testament] [S.l. : S.n., not after 1762.] 665 p. ; 19 cm. Title page missing.’ Because the book had been missing its title page for a very long time, we had no idea where or when it was published, by whom, or even what its real title was. It was time to do some detective work.”... Wesleyan University Special Collections and Archives Blog, Nov. 14

Actions & Answers

What is a library? Bobbi Newman writes: “After recently tweeting a link to ALA President Molly Raphael’s statement regarding the destruction of the Occupy Wall Street Library in New York, I became engaged in a conversation on Twitter about what constitutes a library. To me this seems obvious, but I had a hard time coming up with a hard and fast definition. I discovered that, like Justice Stewart, I’m of the know-it-when-I-see-it mindset when it comes to identifying a library.”... Librarian by Day, Nov. 19; ALA Public Information Office, Nov. 17

Why I am not signing the “Save Libraries” petition Buffy Hamilton writes: “A steady barrage of discussion list messages, tweets, Facebook postings, and blog entries have been making the rounds in recent weeks urging people to sign a petition to the White House on school libraries. While I know the intent was noble in creating this, petitions like these are often a slippery slope, so I’m going to be politically incorrect and offer a dissenting perspective. I do not mean any disrespect to those who think this petition will make a difference, but I would encourage us a profession to unpack the language and assumptions laden in the wording.”... The Unquiet Librarian, Nov. 18; School Library Journal, Nov. 8

Free speech is only as strong as its weakest link Rainey Reitman writes: “From Mubarak knocking a country offline by pressuring local ISPs to PayPal caving to political pressure to cut off funding to WikiLeaks, this year has brought us sobering examples of how online speech can be endangered. As internet users, we rely on a chain of intermediaries—such as social networks, search engines, and ISPs—to help ensure that creative expression and information reach a broader audience. Unfortunately, weak links in this chain can operate as choke points to accomplish widespread censorship. Click here to explore the different intermediaries in the chain, the vulnerabilities they face, and examples of how they have been targeted by those who would squelch online expression.”... Electronic Frontier Foundation, Nov. 21

Library visits at historic high http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

The ways in which Americans use libraries changed significantly in the decade ending in 2009 as libraries adapted to meet the evolving needs of their users. In 2009 (the most recent data available), libraries were visited a record-breaking 1.59 billion times, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ report on the FY2009 Public Library Survey, a census of public libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories conducted annually by IMLS.... Institute of Museum and Library Services, Nov. 18

National Day of Listening, November 25 StoryCorps, the national nonprofit oral history organization, is asking Americans to take a few minutes to pay thanks to a beloved teacher on the day after Thanksgiving. This can include acknowledging a teacher on Facebook, sending a tweet, posting a video tribute on YouTube, or recording a face-to-face interview using StoryCorps’ do- it-yourself guide.... StoryCorps

Professional codes of ethics for librarians Librarians all over the world are well aware of their profession’s ethical implications. In more than 60 countries, library associations have developed and approved a national code of ethics for librarians. The IFLA Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression has collected nearly 40 of them and brought them together in the list “Professional Codes of Ethics for Librarians.”... Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression, Nov. 19

Creation of the Poetry Foundation Library (PDF file) Katherine Litwin writes: “When the Poetry Foundation Library opened its doors on June 25, it became the only library in the Midwest dedicated solely to poetry, and one of a small number of poetry libraries around the world. As the first librarian hired by the Poetry Foundation, my fantastic task was to create a new library out of a singular collection of resources to be housed in an architecturally distinctive space. Located at 61 West Superior Street in Chicago, the building was designed to be an artistic, cultural building in an urban environment.”... ILA Reporter 29, no. 6 (Dec.): 8–11

YouTube: The first 15 seconds David Lee King writes: “What’s important in your YouTube videos? The first 15 seconds. According to YouTube’s Creator Playbook, you have 10–15 seconds to hook your viewer into watching the rest of your video. What do many of us do with those first 15 seconds? A slow fade-in. Cheesy music. A flashy branded intro and titles. Exciting stuff, huh? Instead, here’s what Youtube says we should do.”... David Lee King, Nov. 22

Google Scholar opens up its citations Anyone can now track his or her citations via Google Scholar. The free citation service is billed as “a simple way for authors to compute their

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

citation metrics and track them over time.” Google had announced a limited-release test of the service in July. Google Scholar automatically sorts articles into groups. Authors can go through those, identify which articles are indeed theirs, and edit the list. Google Scholar collects citations for each author and graphs them over time to calculate different metrics.... Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, Nov. 17; Google Scholar Blog, July 20, Nov. 16

Planes overhead and other cool Wolfram Alpha things Richard Byrne writes: “This Wolfram Alpha demo (2:32) shows you what you happens when you enter the term ‘planes overhead’ in Wolfram Alpha. As you’ll see, Wolfram Alpha doesn’t act like Google, Bing, or any other search engine. I think the video is a great demonstration of what makes Wolfram Alpha neat. Watching this got me to dive into my archives for other Wolfram Alpha posts. Consider this my Wolfram Alpha round-up post.”... Free Technology for Teachers, Nov. 20; YouTube, Nov. 18

How to become an essential librarian (PDF file) Breanne Kirsch writes: “Becoming an essential or indispensable librarian will allow new librarians to have increased job stability and other benefits. Based on personal experiences and research, I have compiled a list of six steps to becoming an essential librarian: Find a mentor, read the literature, collaborate, adapt, become a leader, and be persistent.”... Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table 2, no. 1 (Nov.)

Things to do: Completely transform the library Dan Messer writes: “Transformation is not only desirable, but 100% necessary. Are we ready? Some ideas about what we could do to enhance our services and further that transformation arose in comments and through conversations. Here’s a short list. However, it’s easy to say we need to reimagine the library, but to do it we’ll need resources, skill sets, a willingness to learn and adapt, and the administrative vision to make it happen.”... Not All Bits, Nov. 22

Web-based email Stephen Abram writes: “I am a huge fan of web-based email, although I do get email through our corporate client as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, and DMs through Twitter. As you can see in this chart (right), web-based email usage is cratering for people aged 12– 34. From personal experience I know all my friends and relatives in this younger age group generally contact me through either Facebook or texting instead of email. I believe this demographic is a really important segment for libraries—teens, students, and young parents.”... Stephen’s Lighthouse, Nov. 21; Business Insider, Nov. 18

New Jersey State Library returns missing 1716 document Having valuable public documents go missing is not a rare occurrence, but having them turn up in good condition

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

certainly is. In mid-November, the New Jersey State Library returned to the New Jersey State Archives a 1716 legal document that outlined a procedure for the laying out of roads between towns. It had originally been discovered at the Orange County College Library, but was later found to have been stolen from the archives when it was stored in the basement of the State House.... New Jersey State Library, Nov. 21

What Muncie read, 1891–1902 John Plotz writes: “What Middletown Read is based on an incredible trove of unprepossessing ledger books found in an attic during the renovation of the 1904 Muncie (Ind.) Public Library and brought to light by Ball State University English Professor Frank Felsenstein. No previous project includes a database that supplies, to ordinary casual web visitors, this kind of in-depth history about a library’s acquisitions and patrons. It’s the interlinked combination of three different sorts of data—patron records, borrowing records, and library catalog—that makes this such a revealing cache.”... Slate, Nov. 17

The evolution of the memo, 1849–2011 Mitch Toda writes: “In practically every collection of Smithsonian records I acquire and accession, I can expect to find the humble memorandum. Primarily used to communicate within an organization, the memorandum plays a role in documenting the history of the Smithsonian. As you will see from this tour (video or slideshare) of memoranda found in our collections, their form has changed over the years, but the information they contain can be both mundane as well as enlightening.”... The Bigger Picture, Nov. 22

The Gerstenslager bookmobile Larry Nix writes: “For many years the Gerstenslager Company in Wooster, Ohio, was synonymous with bookmobiles for public library extension librarians. Although the roots of the company date back to 1860, it was not until after World War II that the company began designing and building custom bodies for specialty vehicles including bookmobiles. One of my postcard collecting interests is bookmobiles, and in my collection is a group of cards that include advertising on the back for the Gerstenslager Co. and its bookmobile business.”... Library History Buff Blog, Nov. 18

SSA extends FOIA restriction to 100 years Megan Smolenyak writes: “Unfortunately, it’s now official. I have been

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

ordering Social Security applications for several decades, and have found them especially valuable. But recently, without any announcement, the Social Security Administration extended the restriction to 100 years from the birth of the applicant, so you can now only obtain this record in an unaltered state for those born prior to 1912. I can apparently receive the full application if I can prove that the parents are deceased, but that’s a catch-22.”... Smolenyak’s Roots World, Nov. 17

Libraries on Google+ Google+ was launched in June and has since built up a membership of more than 40 million users. Early in November, Google began allowing organizations to create their own pages on the site. In the past few weeks, dozens of libraries have created Google+ pages, from large public libraries such as the New York Public Library, to smaller, tech-savvy ones like Darien (Conn.) Library and Skokie (Ill.) Public Library. Several academic libraries have staked out Google+ pages as well.... Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Nov. 18

Evernote takes on web reading with Clearly Evernote, an application that has gained momentum by providing an easy way for people to quickly capture things they want to remember, is determined to branch out past its humble note-taking origins. On November 16, the company unveiled its latest addition: Clearly, a browser extension that aims to simplify online reading by stripping away links, advertisements, and other clutter from web articles. Users can also save articles to their Evernote accounts.... New York Times: Bits, Nov. 16

How to deal with broken URLs Daniel Cornwall writes: “Web resources have their drawbacks, the most dramatic of which is link rot. Some URLs are more durable than others, but chances are good that at some point you are going to visit a site and get a 404 (File Not Found) error. In most cases, especially with U.S. federal government materials, this is not the end of the world. There are several techniques that you can use to find the missing resource.”... Alaskan Librarian, Nov. 19

Another year of mildly attractive men Zack Frasier writes: “Our student group at the University of South Carolina, LISSA, has a fundraiser that happens around this time every year, The Mildly Attractive Men of Library Science. It is a calendar that we make and sell annually to raise money for our student organization, and each year we do a variation on a theme. It features some of the most mildly attractive men in USC’s School of Library and Information Science. All proceeds from sales directly support student involvement in and attendance at professional conferences.”... Hack Library School, Nov. 17

Sexiest librarian alive

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 23, 2011

Stephen Abram writes: “OK, I took some cold pills and I’m thinking strange. Has American Libraries or Library Journal ever considered a sexiest librarian alive issue? Too much fun LMAO. Some business tactics just might not translate but it could work for #partyhearty and #makeithappen at ALA Midwinter. Here is a start on an anthem.”... Stephen’s Lighthouse, Nov. 17

Go back to the Top

Sign up to receive AL Direct every Wednesday here. American Libraries Magazine, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/112311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:38 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Dallas Update Division News Awards & Grants Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | November 30, 2011 Books & Reading Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar

American Libraries Online

Laurie D. Borman appointed AL editor and publisher Laurie D. Borman is the new editor and publisher of American Libraries publications, effective December 5. Borman has a journalism degree from Indiana Early Bird registration University and more than 20 years of experience in for the Midwinter Meeting magazine and digital publishing. Borman comes to closes December 2. American Libraries from Spertus Institute, where she was editor and writer for print and digital media and helped to promote its Asher Library. Her management experience also includes serving as editorial director at Rand McNally, where she was responsible for integrating print with website and other e-content, overseeing editorial strategy and developments, and initiating Rand McNally’s social media program.... American Libraries news, Nov. 29

Anti-Christian charges prompt review of Part-Time Indian The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was yanked from the library shelves and required reading list of the Dade County (Ga.) High School because of complaints from parents about what they deemed as vulgar, racist, and anti-Christian content. Students had been required to read Sherman Alexie’s young adult novel about a teen growing up on an Indian reservation, but the numerous complaints prompted Superintendent Shawn Tobin to remove the book until it could be reviewed.... AL: Censorship Watch, Nov. 29

Hold Still pulled after “big misunderstanding” The Blue Springs (Mo.) School District has removed Nina LaCour’s young adult novel Hold Still from its library and classrooms in response to parental complaints about its language and sex scenes. Stephen and Christina Brown complained to the

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

principal at the Blue Springs Freshman Center after their 14-year-old daughter read the book, which is about a young girl coping with the suicide of her best friend, as part of an extra-credit assignment in a freshman English class. Brown said the book is inappropriate for public school because it describes explicit sexual relationships.... AL: Censorship Watch, Nov. 30

Sign here for school libraries Beverly Goldberg writes: “The URL had barely expired November 27 on California librarian Seanean Shanahan’s bold online petition demanding strong school libraries in every American school when another campaign got off the ground. Noblesville, Indiana, school librarian Carl Harvey is seeking advice from colleagues by encouraging them to comment on his blog on how best to craft the new petition.”... AL: Inside Scoop, Nov. 29; Library Ties, Nov. 28 ALA News

Brad Meltzer named honorary chair of National Library Week Best-selling author, television host, and library advocate Brad Meltzer (right) has been named the 2012 honorary chair of National Library Week. As the author of nine books and the host of the History channel series Decoded, Meltzer credits libraries and librarians in this video (1:42) as the reason he became a writer. As honorary chair, Meltzer appears in print and digital PSAs promoting National Library Week, April 8–14, 2012. ALA also offers free customization of the PSAs for libraries. Other promotional materials include a sample op-ed, proclamation, press releases, and scripts for use in radio ads. Products from ALA Graphics that support National Library Week are also available.... Public Information Office, Nov. 29; YouTube, July 13

Complete program for new ALA Masters Series at Midwinter The new ALA Masters Series offers insights into the hottest trends and issues as it showcases experts from across library specialties as they describe their latest in-house innovations in fast-paced 30-minute sessions. The lineup for the January meeting is now complete. The hourlong Special Masters session, “A Library Occupies Occupy Wall Street,” is a Midwinter bonus. Attendees will learn firsthand from three of the People’s

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Library builders, librarians Betsy Fagin, Mandy Henk, and Zachary Loeb, about their experiences creating the library and being part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.... Conference Services, Nov. 29

National Gaming Day 2011 another success The surveys are in, and what comes through loud and clear is that National Gaming Day @ your library continues to strengthen communities and bring diverse groups of people together. More than 1,400 libraries registered to participate, and 27,767 gamers signed up for NGD activities. But the numbers aren’t the real story. Once again, the true spirit of the day is what happens at each library, as the following anecdotes provided by librarians prove.”... National Gaming Day @ your library, Nov. 29

Build a user-friendly library site in 10 steps ALA TechSource will host a new 90-minute workshop, “10 Steps to a User-Friendly Library Website,” on January 25. A clean, well-designed website can mean the difference between an informed library user and a confused one. With a focus on the needs and wants of the library user, Amanda Etches-Johnson and Aaron Schmidt will help you develop the skills to make your library website easier to use and more interesting. Registration is available at the ALA Store.... ALA TechSource, Nov. 28

Web analytics for librarians ALA TechSource is offering a new session of the popular workshop, “Web Analytics for Librarians: Informing Decisions through Web User Data” with Paul Signorelli and Sarah Houghton. This workshop will take place in two parts on January 12 and 26. You will learn how to use web analytics as tools for improving your library’s information architecture, usability, marketing, and communication. Registration is available at the ALA Store.... ALA TechSource, Nov. 28

Roberta Stevens reflects on a year as ALA President Roberta A. Stevens (right), outreach projects and partnerships officer at the Library of Congress and National Book Festival project manager, will discuss her experiences as 2010–2011 ALA President in a lecture at LC’s Thomas Jefferson Building on December 6. Stevens will describe how she used the visibility of ALA’s presidency to build support for libraries during a time of economic uncertainty and the reexamination of the value of http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

public and private institutions.... Library of Congress, Nov. 8

Emily Hamstra is RUSA’s 2012 Emerging Leader Emily Hamstra (right), learning librarian at the University of Michigan’s Shapiro Undergraduate Library, has been selected as RUSA’s 2012 Emerging Leader. Hamstra received her MS in Information with a specialty in community informatics in 2009 from the University of Michigan. She is an active member of ALA, RUSA’s Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES), and ACRL.... RUSA, Nov. 29

Davis, Mosley named BCALA Emerging Leaders The Black Caucus of the American Library Association has selected Angiah Davis, reference librarian at the Robert W. Woodruff Library at the Atlanta University Center, and Derek Mosley, archivist and assistant director of the Ernest J. Gaines Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, for the 2012 ALA Emerging Leaders program. Davis received her MS in Library and There’s always a free Information Studies from Florida State University in 2008. Mosley webinar to attend at graduated from the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Booklist Online. Topics Information Science in 2011.... include collection Office for Diversity, Nov. 29 development, reference, ebooks, and Proposal deadline extended for ALA Research Series audiobooks. In The ALA Office for Research and Statistics has extended the book December, watch out proposal deadline for the peer-reviewed ALA Research Series. The for Lerner Publishing new deadline date is December 19. The series seeks research based Group’s Spring Preview on methods other than surveys (such as observational research, and “Hooked on content analysis, grounded theory research, ethnographic technique, Books: New Titles for and historical research) as well as research that blends different the Newest Readers”— methods. Proposal guidelines and a list of topics in which the review or watch previous panel is interested are available online.... webinars at your Office for Research and Statistics, Nov. 29 leisure. NEW! From Booklist. Revised LC Network standards published The Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped have been published New this week by ASCLA. This 2011 version is the fourth iteration of in American ALA standards for libraries serving blind and physically Libraries handicapped individuals. They were developed by consumers, network librarians, and their administering agencies to provide a benchmark for service by which the libraries can judge their accomplishments.... ASCLA, Nov. 29

What to do before and after retirement Retirement holds many questions for librarians, and it’s never too soon (or too late) to start asking them. Published by ALA Editions, Pre- and Post-Retirement Tips for Librarians offers insight, inspiration, and tips for those already retired as well as those thinking E-Content about retiring. In this book, edited by Carol

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Smallwood, a raft of veteran librarians, financial Censorship Watch advisors, and other experts address retirement planning, early retirement, volunteering, and how to Currents stay connected to the profession.... ALA Editions, Nov. 29 Perpetual Beta

Inside Scoop

Ask the ALA Librarian

Solutions and Services

AL Focus

Featured review: Youth fiction Great Libraries Rapp, Adam. The Children and the Wolves. Feb. 2012. 160p. Candlewick (978-0-763- of the World 65337-8). In the wake of such modern masterpieces as 33 Snowfish (2003) and the Printz Honor– winning Punkzilla (2009), readers should know the kind of grueling, soulful, gut-punching work to expect from Rapp. Still, be warned: this is his most hellish—and hellishly readable —vision yet. Bounce, a rich 14-year-old genius (and one of the most frightening characters you’ll find in YA lit), has two 13-year-old lowlife friends, Orange and Wiggins (her “two lost wildebeests”), in her thrall, thanks to her towering IQ, brash sex appeal, and endless supply of OxyContin.... Frederick the Great’s Library, Schloss Taking Tea with Sanssouci, Potsdam, Alexander McCall Smith Germany. The circular Connie Fletcher writes: “It’s been library room in 170 years since a crowd of readers jostled one another on the Prussian King Frederick pier of New York Harbor, reportedly calling out to a ship the Great’s 1740s arriving from England, ‘Is Little Nell dead?’ Little Nell, the summer castle is heroine of Dickens’s Old Curiosity Shoppe, did die, as we all accessible through a know, and by the end of the 19th century, so had the practice narrow passageway of publishing novels in serial installments, for the most part. from his bedroom. The As a result, a rare, immediate conduit between writer and walls and alcoved reader elapsed with it. Until now. This year, two separate bookcases are paneled serial novels appeared in two separate newspapers in the UK. with cedarwood and Both serializations are the work of Scottish literary powerhouse augmented with rich Alexander McCall Smith, former professor of medical law at the gold-colored University of Edinburgh and author of the No. 1 Ladies’ ornamentation. Detective Agency series, the Sunday Philosophy Club series, Frederick’s 2,100 the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and a number of books were removed standalone novels, short stories, and children’s books.”... for safety during World

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

War II and finally African-American history with returned in 1992 after reunification. “heart and soul” Cindy Dobrez writes: “I was skeptical that Kadir Nelson, talented as he is, could pull off a solid history of a country and a people within 100 pages, but I needn’t have worried. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans (Harper/Balzer & Bray, 2011) is a masterpiece. Written as a piece of storytelling from an elder, Nelson includes major events and historical figures but weaves in viewpoints and history based on his own family. From slaves Freising Cathedral helping build the colonies in the mid-1500s to the election of Library, Freising, the first African-American president, Nelson has a lot of Germany. The material to cover.”... cathedral’s Baroque library hall became the @ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... first Catholic public library in Bavaria when it opened in the 1730s. A new building Dallas Update was created for the collection in 1974, but the original library, Saddle up for the Dallas Wine Trail which contains a There are four excellent wineries in the Dallas statue of Apollo from city limits (though not downtown). On January 1780, is still in use. 21, they are jointly hosting a Dallas Wine Trail in which you (or more likely your spouse or This AL Direct feature partner) can taste their wines, try their food, showcases 250 libraries and visit with the staff, owners, and around the world that are winemakers. Tickets go on sale December 1. notable for their exquisite architecture, historic You will need to provide your own collections, and innovative transportation. If you can’t visit the wineries, at least look out for the services. If you find yourself local vintages at restaurants.... on vacation near one of Dallas Wine Trail them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be available in The Whole Dallas Farmer’s Market Library Handbook 5, edited If you’re wondering where to have lunch by George M. Eberhart, which one afternoon, head down to the farmer’s is scheduled for publication in market at 1010 S. Pearl Expressway that 2013 by ALA Editions. has served Dallas as a source of fresh produce for more than 100 years. Shed 2 of the market is designed as a foodie’s delight, with vendors of specialty items, food-related products, and enticing eateries. You can get spices, gourmet cookies and pastries, fresh fudge, locally pastured meat and poultry, and cheeses. Restaurants here serve lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a 20-minute walk from the convention center, or a short hop on the #35 bus.... Dallas Farmer’s Market

It’s called “airplane mode” for a reason Nick Bilton writes: “In my November 27 column I argued that the Federal Aviation Administration should reevaluate a rule requiring passengers to power down electronic devices before taking off and landing on airplanes. Specifically, I said that passengers should be permitted to use Career Leads

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

electronics if they were turned to airplane mode, from and they should stop having phone conversations. The column seems to have touched a nerve with readers. Here I have responded to some reader questions and comments.”... New York Times: Bits, Nov. 27–28 Library Director, How to weather an airport delay Lawrence (Kans.) Public Josh Noel writes: “Though several hours on an unmoving Library. We are looking airplane sounds as awful as any inconvenience in modern for a customer-focused America, Mike Tomaro, a Milwaukee-based clinical community leader with psychologist who specializes in aviation-related anxiety, a clear vision for the offers a reasonable counterpoint. Anyone who has flown future of public library between the United States and Europe has spent at least services in Lawrence. seven hours on a plane. Should any of us wind up in such The next director of a situation, he said, fool yourself. Here are some other Lawrence Public Library tips for managing a long tarmac delay.” And if you are stuck at a gate must be able to engage in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, you can now have food delivered to you our customers, at no extra charge with the B4 You Board app (above).... empower library staff, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 15, 22 implement emerging technologies, work with How does the American Airlines bankruptcy affect local government you? leaders, and build strategic partnerships Michelle Higgins writes: “American Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy within the community. November 29, is among the last of the major carriers to do so, Candidates must have raising predictable questions for customers about how the changes considerable experience will affect them. Based on what can be gleaned from the bankruptcies with budgeting, of other airlines over the past few years, the general answer is that at personnel management, least for the short term, the experience of flying with American will customer service, remain largely the same, though changes are likely down the road.”... New York Times: In Transit, Nov. 29 strategic planning, public relations, and advocacy. Deadline to apply is December Division News 31....

School librarians help provide needed digital citizenship skills According to supplemental questions asked as part of the 2011 School Libraries Count! national longitudinal survey of school library programs conducted by AASL, an overwhelming majority of schools across America are including digital citizenship—appropriate and responsible technology use—as @ More jobs... part of their curriculum. Survey findings (PDF file) also indicate the school librarian serves as one of the primary educators when it comes to digital citizenship.... AASL, Nov. 29 Digital Library of the Week Students and families have increased access to school library resources Technology acquisitions in school libraries across the nation appear to be leveling, while remote access to school library databases is rapidly increasing. Data was collected as part of AASL’s national longitudinal survey, School Libraries Count!, conducted yearly since 2007. A steady increase in remote access was noted each year since 2007, with the 2011 results reporting that 82% of libraries participating in the survey now make databases available to students outside of school confines.... AASL, Nov. 29

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Young adult author Ally Carter added to PLA 2012 The Media History PLA announced the addition of the Young Adult Digital Library is a Author Lunch with Ally Carter to the PLA 2012 nonprofit initiative Conference March 15. Carter (right) is the New York dedicated to digitizing Times best-selling author of the four books in the collections of classic Gallagher Girls spy school series, including I’d Tell media periodicals that You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You and belong in the public Only the Good Spy Young. Carter joins a remarkable domain for full public collection of authors and illustrators scheduled to join PLA 2012, access. The project is including: David Baldacci, Carl Hiaasen, Oscar Hijuelos, Joyce Carol supported by owners Oates, Jerry Pinkney, Lisa Scottoline, and Karin Slaughter. A separate of materials who loan registration is required for special author events.... PLA, Nov. 29 them for scanning and donors who contribute UIUC library to digitize C&RL archive funds to cover the cost of scanning. It has The University Library at the University of Illinois at scanned more than Urbana-Champaign has launched a project to digitize 200,000 pages. The the complete back run of ACRL’s scholarly research collection features journal College & Research Libraries. The volunteer extensive runs of initiative will scan the full contents of C&RL from 1939 several trade to 1996 and make them freely available to the public publications, among in the University of Illinois’s IDEALS institutional them The Film Daily repository. C&RL contents from 1997 to the present (1918–1936), are freely available through the publication’s online International presence at HighWire Press.... ACRL, Nov. 29 Photographer (1929– 1941), Moving Picture AASL joins alliance to support World (1912-1918), and Photoplay (1917– literacy education 1940). AASL joins 20 other stakeholder groups representing educational and school and community leaders in support Do you know of a digital of the new National Center for Literacy Education. NCLE, a project of library collection that we can the National Council of Teachers of English and the Ball Foundation, mention in this AL Direct provides a clearinghouse for educator teams and schools engaged in feature? Tell us about it. Browse previous Digital innovative literacy education practices to share and learn from one Libraries of the Week at the I another.... Love Libraries site. AASL, Nov. 29

AASL partners in celebrating inaugural Digital Learning Day AASL, working together with the Alliance for Excellent Education and other national educational organizations, is calling on school librarians to participate in the inaugural national Digital Learning Day on February 1. Digital Learning Day will celebrate innovative teaching practices that make learning more personalized and engaging and encourage exploration of how digital learning can provide more students with more opportunities to get the skills they need to succeed in college, career, and life.... Public http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

AASL, Nov. 29 Perception Four ALSC online courses start How the World Sees Us January 16 ALSC announced the release of its Winter 2012 “Libraries are where Online Education schedule. The division will offer we learn about four courses, each of which begins January 16. things that are new “Connecting with Tween Readers” examines the to us. Their books developmental needs for this age group; “Out of This World Youth broaden our Programming” provides innovative ideas and tips on how to plan, perspectives, change promote, execute, and evaluate programs; “Children with Disabilities the way we see the in the Library” explores ways the library might be able to assist world and, at the students with disabilities; “Information Literacy—From Preschool to most basic level, High School” discusses the creation, marketing, and presentation of provide us with free successful information literacy programs, and other ideas.... and open access to ALSC, Nov. 29 knowledge and information. Over LITA offers two full-day workshops at Midwinter the two months that LITA will offer two full-day workshops at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in the People’s Library Dallas on January 20. Mark Phillips will present “Digital Curation at has been in the Command Line,” which provides a hands-on review of basic tools operation at Zuccotti for bit-level preservation. Nina McHale and Rachel Vacek will present Park, we librarians “Getting Started with Drupal,” which provides an introduction to the have come to see Drupal content management system. Participants should plan to bring how vital this a laptop for both workshops.... mission is to the LITA, Nov. 29 enrichment of our broader society.” ALTAFF to host Nuts & Bolts program at Midwinter ALTAFF will host “Nuts & Bolts for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations” —University of Pittsburgh on January 20 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. The program Associate Professor of English will feature speakers who will address topics of interest to trustees, William Scott, who friends, foundations, and citizen advocates, followed by round table volunteered for six weeks as a librarian for the Occupy discussions geared toward each group. Keynote speaker Ron Heezen, Wall Street Library, “The executive director of the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport, People’s Library of Occupy Louisiana, will examine why libraries are critical. Advance registration Wall Street Lives On,” The is $50.... Nation, Dec. 12. ALTAFF, Nov. 29 @ More quotes... YALSA’s new webinar-on-demand Looking for guidance with the latest topics in teen services? Look no further than YALSA’s webinars-on-demand. Previously recorded webinars, led by content experts selected by YALSA, are complimentary for YALSA members and available for purchase for nonmembers. YALSA has posted a new webinar-on-demand, “From 140 Characters to 10 Pages,” hosted by Laura Pearle (free to YALSA members/$19 for all others).... YALSA, Nov. 29 How to Get a Great Job: Resume-Writing 101 Call for online learning proposals RUSA is seeking proposals for webinar presentations for its 2012 series of professional development webinars that will be held from January 2012 through August 2012. RUSA webinars are an opportunity for librarians to infuse their year with professional development they can conveniently—and affordably—pursue from the comfort of their home or office. Webinars will cover topics relevant to a broad range of librarians, library staff, and library supporters. The Donna Seaman Interviews deadline for proposals is December 31.... Elizabeth Berg RUSA, Nov. 29 Libraries Offer Financial ALTAFF offers members 40% discount on Patron Education

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Profiles Scott Turow: 'Libraries need ALTAFF is offering division members a special deal on Patron Profiles, our support. Get involved.' a digital online quarterly resource from Library Journal and Bowker Pubtrack Consumer that delivers intelligence and advice based on 'Nobody's Perfect': Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot extensive surveys of library patrons. Each issue provides in-depth results and analysis on one crucial topic facing library leaders today. ACC Basketball Is Still the For the first year, the four topics will be ebooks, the mobile library, Best websites and virtual services, and patron media consumption.... Resources for Caregivers: ALTAFF, Nov. 29 'Who has time to read when you’re going through all Go back to the Top that stuff?'

Awards & Grants Join Us on Facebook

Subscribe to our 2011 I Love My Librarian Award Newsletter The 2011 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian winners will be announced next week. The 10 winners will be honored at a December 8 award ceremony at the Times Center in New York City, with a special appearance by author and attorney Caroline Kennedy. The event will also commemorate the centennial of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. All librarians and library advocates in the New York area are welcome to attend.... @ your library Calendar Tower Hamlets Book Award Joe Layburn’s Street Heroes (Frances Lincoln) won Dec. 8–9: this year’s Tower Hamlets Book Award. The award— Center for Public for books written primarily for ages 10 to 12—was Scholarship, Social announced November 25 at a ceremony at the Idea Research Conference, Store Whitechapel. Street Heroes is set in London’s John Tishman East End and is about a boy named Georgie, whose Auditorium, 66 West father is a highly controversial politician whose 12th Street, New York message is to get rid of nonwhite people. Everyone City. “The Future of assumes Georgie shares his father’s views, but while Higher Education.” he loves his dad, he’s really not sure what he thinks. Then Georgie begins to hear a voice in his head, the voice of a Muslim girl named 2012 Library Fatima.... Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service (London), Nov. Promotions

2011 Sports Book of the Year Feb. 1: Ronald Reng has won the William Hill Sports Book of Digital Learning Day. the Year Award 2011 for A Life Too Short: The Sponsored by the Tragedy of Robert Enke (Yellow Jersey Press). Reng’s Young Adult Library biography of the German national soccer goalkeeper Services Association. who suffered from depression and took his own life in 2009 was praised by the judging panel for its powerful Mar. 4–10: and insightful nature as well as its sensitivity and Teen Tech Week. sincerity. First published in Germany, the book became Sponsored by YALSA. an international bestseller.... “Geek Out @ your The Guardian (U.K.), Nov. 28 library.” Seen Online Apr. 1–30: School Library Month. Sponsored by Facebook settles FTC privacy charges the American The social networking service Facebook has agreed to settle Federal Association of School Trade Commission charges that it deceived consumers by telling them Librarians. http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public. The proposed Apr. 8–14: settlement (PDF file) requires Facebook to take several steps National Library (including privacy audits for the next 20 years) to make sure it gives Week. “You Belong @ consumers clear and prominent notice and obtains their express your library.” consent before information is shared beyond the settings they have established. But Lance Ulanoff asks the question: Did the FTC just Apr. 10: ruin Facebook?... National Library Federal Trade Commission, Nov. 29; Mashable, Nov. 30 Workers Day. Sponsored by ALA- EU set to slap Facebook with APA. privacy sanctions The European Commission is preparing a Apr. 11: directive to prevent Facebook from sharing National Bookmobile users’ information—such as their political Day. Sponsored by the opinions, sexuality, religious beliefs, and location ALA Office for Literacy —with advertisers unless users specifically allow it. Following concerns and Outreach Services, over the privacy implications of the practice, a new EC Directive, to the Association of be introduced in early January, will be part of an update to current bookmobile and data protection laws. Should Facebook fail to adjust its privacy Outreach Services, and settings in compliance with the new legislation, the social network the Association for could face prosecution and/or a heavy fine.... Rural and Small Mashable, Nov. 28; The Telegraph (U.K.), Nov. 26 Libraries.

How Facebook is ruining sharing Apr. 12: Molly Wood writes: “I’m afraid to click any Support Teen links on Facebook these days. No, it’s got Literature Day. nothing to do with the spam attack and the Sponsored by YALSA. flood of nasty images making their way into news feeds all last week. Instead, it’s because the slow spread of Facebook’s Open Graph Apr. 21–28: scheme is totally ruining sharing. I know you’ve seen this at the top Money Smart Week of your news feed: a list of stories your friends have been reading. @ your library. Or, simply, a single post with a great headline leading to a story that Sponsored by ALA and you’d really like to read. So you click it, because your friend shared it, the Federal Reserve and you really want to read it. Instead of the story, you get this Bank of Chicago. (above).”... CNET News, Nov. 18 Apr. 22–28: Preservation Week. Some school librarians welcome the Sponsored by the noise Association for Library Buffy Hamilton (right), who calls herself “The Unquiet Collections and Librarian,” holds the phone receiver away from her ear Technical Services. at the Creekview High School library in Canton, Georgia, revealing a cacophony of noise in the Apr. 23–24: background. Hamilton welcomes what she calls the National Library “hum of learning”—students talking about projects, Legislative watching videos, and even singing “Happy Birthday.” In her new Day,Liaison Hotel, library role, Hamilton focuses on enhancing lessons and class projects Washington, D.C. with tools of the digital world to access, organize, and evaluate information.... Apr. 30: Boston Herald, Nov. 25 El día de los niños/El día de los libros Toronto library closures planned, union warns (Children’s The Toronto library union says city hall is moving ahead with a series Day/Book Day). of library closures and service reductions despite a promise to Sponsored by the maintain the status quo. According to the Toronto Public Library Association for Library Workers Union, City Manager Joe Pennachetti has endorsed a new Service to Children. consulting report calling for the closure of 15 library branches and massive cuts to service hours across the city. The union says the May 1–7: http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

move flies in the face of the “clear will of City Council and the Choose Privacy Toronto Public Library Board,” which have already rejected these Week. Sponsored by options.... the Office for CTV Toronto, Nov. 25 Intellectual Freedom.

UK Parliament to investigate library closures Sep. 1–30: As advocates throughout the United Kingdom fight to keep their local Library Card Sign-Up libraries open, the Culture, Media, and Sport select committee has Month. launched an inquiry into library closures. The library inquiry will investigate whether planned library closures across the UK are compatible with the 1964 Libraries and Museums Act. The committee Sep. 30– is asking for submissions by January 12 on what constitutes “a Oct. 6: comprehensive and efficient library service” in the 21st century and Banned Books Week. what effect library closures have on local communities.... Sponsored by the The Guardian (U.K.), Nov. 24 Office for Intellectual Freedom. No free speech at Mr. Jefferson’s library Peter Van Buren writes: “Morris Davis (right) was fired Oct. 14–20: from his job at the Congressional Research Service for Teen Read Week. writing the article ‘Justice and Guantanamo Bay’ in the Sponsored by YALSA. November 10, 2009, Wall Street Journal. (The irony of being fired for exercising free speech while employed Oct. 21–27: at Thomas Jefferson’s library evidently escaped his National Friends of bosses.) With the help of the ACLU, Davis demanded Libraries Week. his job back. The case was heard November 10. Sponsored by the Someday, it will likely define the free-speech rights of federal Association of Library employees and so determine the quality of people who will make up Trustees, Advocates, our government.”... Friends, and Huffington Post, Dec. 4, 2009, Nov. 28; Wall Street Journal, Nov. 10, 2009; ABA Journal, Foundations. Nov. 11

FTC extends deadline for COPPA comments @ More... The Federal Trade Commission has extended until December 23 the deadline for the public to submit comments on proposed amendments (PDF file) to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which gives parents control over what personal information websites and online Contact Us services may collect from children under 13. To file a comment online, American Libraries write “COPPA Rule Review, 16 CFR Part 312, Project No. P-104503” Direct on the comment, and follow the instructions on the web-based form.... Federal Trade Commission, Nov. 18

Libraries borrow marketing ideas AL Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every from bookstores Wednesday to personal Throughout the downtown branch of Columbus members of the American (Ohio) Metropolitan Library, books are displayed Library Association and with the covers facing out. “Staff picks” are lined subscribers. up on a table; another holds books billed “As heard on NPR.” Pat Losinski, director of the library system, said, “We know that, as bookstore experts have known for years, the face-out displays matter. It casts at least a preliminary vision in the reader’s mind” of what the book is about and George M. Eberhart, why it’s important.... Editor: [email protected] Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, Nov. 28

Retired librarian keeps small town organized During her decades married to a globe-trotting government official and her time working in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, Sharon Howe Sweeting sampled a wide variety of international Beverly Goldberg, Senior Editor: cultures. Since moving back to her birthplace, Cherry Creek, New [email protected]

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

York, after a far-flung career, she has worked hard to preserve its history. Among her efforts was modernizing and organizing the Cherry Creek Town Museum, using the skills she gained as a librarian and archivist, after taking over as town historian in 2009.... Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Nov. 25 Greg Landgraf, Associate Editor: Washington digital project helps [email protected] libraries preserve history Since 2006, the Washington State Library’s Washington Rural Heritage project has been helping the state’s smallest libraries not only preserve community history but digitize it and make it part of Sanhita SinhaRoy, a website accessible to all. With the help of an Associate Editor: [email protected] Institute of Museum and Library Service grant, libraries in communities with a population of 25,000 Jennifer Henderson, or less have applied to Rural Heritage for funds up to $10,000. Contributing Researcher Twenty-five libraries across the state now have historic documents online and seven more are working on their collections.... To advertise in American Seattle Times, Nov. 27 Libraries Direct, contact:

$10,000 raised for Flint Public Library When author and filmmaker Michael Moore spoke at Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan, November 22, he brought with him Doug Lewis: more than just stories to share from his new memoir Here Comes [email protected] Trouble. He brought 2,000 copies of his book he had purchased from his publisher, ready to sell them at the free public event, giving 100% of the proceeds to the Flint Public Library. Library Director Kay Schwartz said the event raised about $10,000.... Flint (Mich.) Journal, Nov. 23 Katie Bane: [email protected] Still images promoting moving pictures Send feedback: “Most of what makes people want to go [email protected] to the movies now was developed and AL Direct FAQ: used at the beginning of the americanlibrariesmagazine development of film,” said Barbara .org/aldirect Cohen-Stratyner, a curator at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the organizer of “The All links outside the ALA Birth of Promotion: Inventing Film Publicity in the Silent-Film Era,” an website are provided for informational purposes only. exhibition that runs through February 25 in the library’s Lincoln Questions about the content Center gallery. The exhibition covers the early period in the form of of any external site should the newsletters—the Edison Kinetogram, the Kalem Kalendar, the be addressed to the Lubin Bulletin—sent to theater owners and operators of film administrator of that site. exchanges. Watch the promotional video (0:59).... Sign up to receive AL New York Times, Nov. 23; YouTube, Nov. 2 Direct every Wednesday here. British Library puts 19th-century newspapers online American Libraries Four million pages of newspapers from the 18th and 50 E. Huron St. Chicago, IL 60611 19th centuries are now available online through the Website British Library, in what head of newspapers Ed King 800-545-2433, calls “a digital Aladdin’s Cave” for researchers. The ext. 4216 British Newspaper Archive is a partnership between the library and digital publishing firm Brightsolid, which has ISSN 1559-369X been scanning 8,000 pages a day from the library’s vast archive for the past year and plans to digitize 40 million pages over the next decade. Access to the archive onsite is free; offsite access can be purchased for 2 days, 30 days, or 12 months.... Associated Press, Nov. 29; British Newspaper Archive

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Rape victim sues library architect, contractor The family of the East Bay High School student who was brutally beaten and raped outside the Bloomingdale Regional branch of the Tampa–Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Library System in April 2008, is suing the companies that designed and built the facility where the attack occurred. In the suit filed November 14, the family said the design and construction of the library, built in 2005, contributed to the attack. At issue is the design of the after-hours book drop, which requires patrons to exit their vehicles and walk to the after-hours container, where the rapist first approached the victim.... Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, Nov. 23

Statue stolen from Albuquerque branch An outdoor sculpture beloved by library patrons and with deep personal meaning for its creator has vanished from the prominent location it occupied for years at the Juan Tabo branch of the Albuquerque (N.Mex.) Public Library. Whether the thief or thieves mistakenly thought the statue of a boy reading a book was made of valuable bronze or stole it for some other reason remains a mystery. Library staff said they saw the statue of the little boy named Shaun when they came into work November 23, but it was gone by noon. Watch the newscast (2:24).... KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, Nov. 24

Flagler County library gazebo vandalized A gazebo dedicated to the “founding mother” of the Flagler County (Fla.) Public Library will be replaced with a sturdier pavilion-style structure better able to sustain the assault of vandals. What remained of the gazebo dedicated on September 22, 2001, to the late Sandra Rose Friedman was removed in early November, said library director Holly Albanese. The gazebo had been under a steady attack for years by vandals who damaged its screens, benches, and intricate wood pieces.... Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, Nov. 24

Go back to the Top Tech Talk

Secret software on mobile phones logs everything you do David Kravets writes: “The Android developer who raised the ire of a mobile- phone monitoring company in mid- November is on the attack again, producing a video (17:10) of how the Carrier IQ software secretly installed on millions of mobile phones reports most everything a user does on a phone. Trevor Eckhart’s video actually shows the logging of text messages, encrypted web searches, and you name it. Carrier IQ denied that its software logs keystrokes, but the video clearly undercuts that claim.”... Wired: Threat Level, Nov. 29; YouTube, Nov. 28

How to buy a game console

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Will Greenwald writes: “Another year has passed and Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all continue their slow, steady battles for gaming and entertainment domination. Sony is reportedly working on new console hardware, and Nintendo has actually unveiled its next- gen system, the Wii U (right). In the handheld gaming world, the Nintendo DS has been replaced by the 3DS, and Sony’s PlayStation Vita will unseat the well-worn PlayStation Portable early in 2012. Here we take a look at the big three consoles, along with Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s PlayStation Move add-ons, to help you decide which are the best to buy now.”... PC Magazine, Nov. 22

Gaming headsets for online play Will Greenwald writes: “A gaming headset is a must-have accessory for the serious gamer. The good news is that you can get a headset for as little as $50. Inexpensive headsets can be very simple stereo headphones with an additional microphone and connector. More expensive pairs can add features like built-in USB audio so you only need to use one cable, and multiple connection options so you can use it with both PCs and game consoles.”... PC Magazine, Nov. 4

Microsoft Office in development for the Apple iPad Microsoft is currently developing its entire suite of Office productivity applications for the Apple iPad. This is the company’s first attempt to reaching out to the emerging tablet segment with its business software. Industry insiders claim Microsoft is working on standalone versions of such Office programs as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to sell for $10 each in the app market. The move will directly challenge Apple’s own suite of applications that are customized for the iPad, such as Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.... Good E-Reader Blog, Nov. 29

How to skip software updates J. D. Biersdorfer writes: “If you are completely sure you do not need a particular update from Microsoft, you can hide it so it goes away. To do that, go to the Start menu to All Programs and open Windows Update. In the Windows Update box, you should see a list of updates suggested for your computer, organized by how important Microsoft has deemed them.”... New York Times: Gadgetwise, Nov. 22

Google Maps goes indoors Brian McClendon writes: “When you’re inside an airport, shopping mall, or retail store, a common way to figure out where you are is to look for a freestanding map directory or ask an employee for help. Starting November 28, with the release of Google Maps 6.0 for Android, that directory is brought to the palm of your hands, helping you determine where you are, what floor you’re on, and where to go indoors.” Watch the video (1:01).... Google Lat Long Blog, Nov. 28; YouTube, Nov. 28

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Smartphone apps send holiday greetings Claire Cain Miller writes: “More people are skipping paper holiday cards—or at least the part where you mail them yourself—in favor of cellphone apps that create cards and send them by text message, email, or snail mail. Though websites like Shutterfly and Paperless Post have already simplified the process by letting people upload photos and order or send cards online, the new apps make it even faster by doing away with the need to transfer a photo from your phone to the computer and write notes and addresses by hand.”... New York Times: Personal Tech, Nov. 23

Turning library books into touchpads Sures Kumar writes: “One of the places where the tension between searching and browsing is readily apparent is at the library. We often find ourselves getting lost among the shelves, browsing and hoping for a serendipitous discovery or two. Rather than trying to find a book using the Dewey Decimal System, you can navigate spatially and orient yourself in the direction of your search using a digital search compass in my ‘Nimble’ prototype. People still like the tactile feel of books and other printed media, and they also like to browse. Nimble allows you to collect and sort notes and highlight text from books you are reading.” Watch the video (4:11).... Sures Kumar’s Blog; YouTube, Nov. 8

E-Content

Obama wants better digital archive of federal records The process of archiving government data, decisions, and deliberations is set for a major overhaul. President Obama on November 28 ordered agencies to make wider use of digital-based record-keeping systems in what aides promise will be the most significant change to government archiving since Harry S. Truman’s presidency. White House aides said Obama will give agency chiefs four months to draft plans to improve records-management programs, to be followed by specific government-wide instructions on how to make record keeping more cost-effective and accessible.... Washington Post: Federal Eye, Nov. 28; White House, Nov. 28

Sticking a toe in the ebook tsunami Marijke Visser writes: “There is a tendency among many ebook stakeholders to want to stay with what we know, how things have always gone, and a desire to shape the digital content realm in the shadow of the print world. Unfortunately, this is in direct opposition to the demands of the rapidly shifting reading ecosystem. Brian O’Leary (right) of Magellan Media challenged stakeholders (27:26) to take advantage of the ‘Opportunity in Abundance’ and act together to affect the critical change needed for the reading ecosystem to succeed against the disruptions in force.”... District Dispatch, Nov. 28; YouTube, Oct. 31

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

It’s not about libraries, it’s about Amazon Eric Hellman writes: “When Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries decided to put ‘Buy this book’ buttons on its online catalog pages, the response was strong. In just 11 days, the buy buttons had garnered almost 700 clickthroughs. According to Library Director Jamie LaRue, the library is putting buy links direct to publisher-supplied URLs when they are provided. In isolation, this data seems to be strong support for the notion that a digital presence in libraries can support sales of books. The recent withdrawal by Penguin from library ebook lending platforms (such as OverDrive) seems to be a profoundly shortsighted move.”... Go to Hellman, Nov. 25

Cambridge would like you to rent an article Jennifer Howard writes: “Will researchers pay for short-term access to journal articles? Cambridge University Press is about to find out. The publisher has just announced a rental program (PDF file) for articles from the more than 280 peer-reviewed journals it publishes. After registration and payment, the reader is emailed a link, through which they can access and read the article in PDF format as often as they wish during the subsequent 24 hours.”... Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, Nov. 30

When ebooks attack, paperbacks die Frank Catalano writes: “The mass market paperback is dead. It just doesn’t know it yet. Ailing for months, its demise is now all but assured by Amazon’s recent announcement that the least expensive, wonderfully readable, and portable Kindle is now $79, a price point matched over the Black Friday holiday by Barnes & Noble for its Nook Simple Touch Limited Edition (right). For the price of 10 paperback books, an avid reader can get a device that not only provides fiction at a lower per-book price than paper, but also permits an entire library of current reading to be carried anywhere.”... Geek Wire, Nov. 27

Broward County makes ebooks available at airport Over the summer, Broward County (Fla.) Library in Fort Lauderdale had the idea to make more than 34,000 public-domain titles on its “virtual branch” website directly available and visible in one of the community’s busiest centers—the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. Broward County Library’s partnership with the airport has resulted in positive feedback from users of the service and the media. Travelers use QR codes displayed on LCD screens in the airport’s baggage claim area to download free books from the county’s libraries.... Digital Library Blog, Nov. 28

Fahrenheit 451: The ebook At age 91, Ray Bradbury is making peace with the future he helped predict. The science fiction/fantasy author and longtime enemy of the ebook has finally allowed his dystopian classic Fahrenheit 451 to be published in digital format. Simon & Schuster released the electronic edition November 29. First published in paperback in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 imagines a world in which the appetite for new and faster media leads to a http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

decline in reading, and books are banned and burned. Bradbury himself has been an emphatic defender of traditional paper texts, saying that ebooks “smell like burned fuel” and calling the internet nothing but “a big distraction.”... Associated Press, Nov. 29

Ebook piracy whodunit Matthew Flamm writes: “Jason, a 29-year-old Manhattan publicity executive, bought an iPad2 in August and began downloading ebooks. He now has some 50 titles, including Water for Elephants, the Twilight series, all of Harry Potter, The Help, and the Game of Thrones series. He hasn’t paid for any of them, but he doesn’t feel guilty. Book publishers know of many Jasons, and—like music label executives before them—say that convincing these consumers that they are indeed stealing is crucial to the industry’s antipiracy battle.”... Crain’s New York Business, Nov. 27

Japan cool to ebooks A new report shows Japan to be wary of ebooks, despite the country’s reputation for technological expertise. More than 1,000 Japanese and Chinese men and women were polled on their attitudes toward ebooks in a survey that reveals stark contrasts between the two countries. Of the 600 Japanese respondents asked “Do you use or do you want to use ebooks?” 57.7% responded they would “never read an ebook.” Of the 450 Chinese respondents, only 4.5% answered the same. While 70% of Chinese respondents said they had already downloaded and read an electronic book at least once, only 10% of Japanese participants in the survey said they had done so.... TheBookseller.com, Nov. 29

Textbooks take a big leap to digital The potential for digital growth is leading publishers to experiment with products that stretch the boundaries of traditional textbooks, slowly turning away from static text and images toward a multimedia, intuitive approach, publishers say. According to the Student Monitor, a private student market research company based in New Jersey, about 5% of all textbooks acquired in the autumn in the United States were digital textbooks. That is more than double the 2.1% of the spring semester.... New York Times, Nov. 23

Michigan moves towards e-textbooks The University of Michigan is in the early stages of an initiative that could save students money by moving to electronic textbooks, particularly in large, introductory-level classes where textbook costs can be high. University Librarian Paul Courant told the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs November 28 that a collaborative group is pursuing a timetable that is expected to pilot in 2012.... University of Michigan, Nov. 29

A peek into an electronic records archivist’s toolkit Lynda Schmitz Fuhrig writes: “When it comes to electronic records there is no magic button that makes them readable or usable on a computer. Electronic records archivists rely on all types of hardware, software, and operating

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

systems. Many pieces of software, which function as an archivist’s toolbox, can help files remain available or become usable again. Here is a small list of some open-source and/or freely available software we use at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.”... The Bigger Picture, Nov. 29

Go back to the Top Books & Reading

10 of the most memorable literary libraries John Mullan writes: “From the British Museum reading room to Gormenghast, here are 10 of the most memorable libraries in literature.” Number 7 is Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett: “Influenced by Borges, the library of Pratchett’s school of wizadry is a baffling space containing at least every book ever written. You can enter the library from one place and exit at another. Books are chained in order to prevent them harming their users. The librarian is an orangutan, adept at reaching the top shelves and stern in his imposition of the library’s rules.”... The Guardian (U.K.), Nov. 25

The mind’s ear James Parker writes: “Audiobooks are on the rise. Purchasable, downloadable, borrowable from the library, they are making ever deeper inroads into what publishers persist in calling (with touching optimism) ‘the book market.’ A recent article by Peter Osnos on The Atlantic website parsed the sales data in anticipation of a ‘coming audiobooks boom.’ At the very moment the poor old book-object dissolves before our eyes, we are renewing our primary contract with the author by offering him our ears.”... New York Times: Sunday Book Review, Nov. 25

10 lost novels the world found again Emily Temple writes: “In mid-November, Jack Kerouac’s first-ever novel, The Sea Is My Brother, was finally published 40 years after his death. The novel, long thought to be lost by experts, was unearthed in Kerouac’s personal archive by his brother-in-law. To celebrate this newest development in the literary canon, we decided to take a look at Kerouac’s newest/oldest book and other lost novels that were eventually found again.”... Flavorwire, Nov. 26; BBC News, Nov. 24

Amazing Stories magazine Elizabeth C. writes: “Beginning in April 1926, Amazing Stories ran for almost 80 years. The first magazine dedicated purely to science fiction, it was much beloved, despite an occasionally spotty publication schedule. Some issues are particularly noteworthy, like volume 3, issue no. 5, from 1928 (right), which features the first print appearance of Buck Rogers. But from rocketships and robots to telepathy and time travel, Amazing Stories provided entertainment, adventure, and intrigue in every issue, and many are very collectible today.”... Reading Copy Book Blog, Nov. 22

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Actions & Answers

Europe gives the U.S. a lesson in internet due process Derrick Harris writes: “On November 24, a European court struck down a rule imposing network-monitoring responsibility on an ISP with regard to copyright infringement, and experts believe the decision could help rein in the spread of SOPA-like laws throughout Europe. Meanwhile, the highly controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which imposes heavy burdens on service providers to sniff out and stop infringing activity, looks likely to pass once U.S. lawmakers actually get around to voting on it.”... GigaOM, Nov. 29; CIO, Nov. 24

Decline in consumers seeking health information In 2010, 50% of American adults sought information about a personal health concern, down from 56% in 2007, according to a new national study from the Center for Studying Health System Change. The likelihood of people seeking information from the internet and from friends and relatives changed little between 2007 and 2010, but their use of hardcopy books, magazines, and newspapers dropped by nearly half to 18%. This was most pronounced among older Americans, people with chronic conditions, and people with less education—some of the more vulnerable subgroups.... Center for Studying Health System Change, Nov.

Rethinking “quality” in the research library Rick Anderson writes: “I’m going to suggest something that may seem crazy on its face. Research libraries need to worry less about the objective quality of the books they acquire, and instead focus on another property, at once more concrete and more elusive—utility. The obvious and reasonable retort to such a suggestion would be ‘How useful can a low- quality book be?’ Let’s start by considering two books, both of which, one could reasonably argue, are objectively bad, though each in a different way.”... The Scholarly Kitchen, Nov. 28

Dealing with politicized reference questions Amanda Maddock writes: “I’ve often found myself faced with reference interactions where a patron is looking for sources in favor of a position for which there is a lack of academic support. Some of these issues have been barred as research topics by professors who feel that abortion, gun rights, and gay rights often produce limited and repetitive arguments in student papers. As a librarian, however, I do not have the luxury of telling patrons that their topics won’t work. I’m there to provide objective information access, even if the topic in question challenges my own ideas of what is objective.”... Letters to a Young Librarian, Nov. 28

John Cotton Dana and The Men of Letters Larry Nix writes: “Although John Cotton Dana is best known in the library profession for his advocacy of library public relations, one of the things that I admire most about him was his sense of humor. I http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

have in my collection a four-page publication titled The Men of Letters (May 1913) published by the Elm Tree Press in Woodstock, Vermont. It begins with a letter, supposedly published in the Newark (N.J.) Evening News, that was instigated by Dana when he was director of the Newark Public Library.”... Library History Buff Blog, Nov. 29

Are you a 21st-century librarian? Steve Matthews writes: “How does one measure his or her own librarianship to determine whether he or she is a 21st-century librarian? Over the past two years I have reviewed hundreds of articles and reports and blog posts that discuss scores of 21st-century library and librarianship ideas, concepts, and actions. What I have collected and outlined is an initial list of the major characteristics that will certainly tell you whether you are on the right path.”... 21st Century Library Blog, Nov. 28

Is librarianship in crisis? Aaron Tay writes: “Librarians are worriers, and one thing we like to worry a lot about is the future of libraries. Veronica Arellano, however, thinks that we should stop writing about it. She has a point that too much negativity can be self-fulfilling, and we need to be careful not to drive away young, passionate people in our profession by being too negative. That said, I do not totally agree that the problems and dangers facing librarianship are always exaggerated, and that everything is fine and dandy.”... Musings about Librarianship, Nov. 25; The Formerly Freelance Librarian, Aug. 4

12 citation generators Julie Greller writes: “A few days ago, my niece asked me for information about how to format a bibliography. I couldn’t help but tell her the story of how when I was in high school we had to follow a formula that the teacher provided in a handout. There are now free programs that will practically do all the work for you, including putting your bibliography in a Microsoft Word document. So I sent her a small list of my favorite programs, and then expanded the list here.”... A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet, Nov. 26

Automating libraries: An annotated bibliography The ALA Library has updated its fact sheet on library automation. It offers a selection of print and online resources that provide an introduction to the issues to consider when selecting a tool that provides patron access and circulation inventory for your library’s collection of books, DVDs, and any other materials.... ALA Library Fact Sheet no. 21

Beginners’ impressions of genealogy James Tanner writes: “I have been helping three ladies just starting out in genealogy and they had some interesting and consistent comments. Their knowledge about what they were getting into was extremely limited. They had no prior experience in doing research and had fair computer skills. In each case, I spent more than the normal few minutes helping a patron at the Mesa (Ariz.) Regional Family

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

History Center. So what were their initial impressions?”... Genealogy’s Star, Nov. 20

The Bodleian’s treasures on display Cynthia Haven writes: “As you enter the darkened room, a 1623 Shakespeare First Folio is to your right. Enigmatic scraps of a poem by Sappho are to your left. And all around you the wonders of the world: Weighted with heavy seals, a 1217 engrossment of the Magna Carta is nearby. In the corner of one glass case lies an exquisite 18th-century miniature scroll of the Bhagavad Gita, which shines like a cache of jewels. The Bodleian Library’s ‘Treasures of the Bodleian,’ on display through December 23, shows some of the Oxford library’s most important and most evocative rarities.” Watch the series of videos describing the exhibit.... Stanford University: The Book Haven, Nov. 26; YouTube, Nov. 2

My three favorite collections of private papers Jillian Dunham writes: “To check some facts on the multiple-personality poster girl Sybil, a photo researcher and I headed to the special collections room at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which houses transcripts of Sybil’s psychotherapy sessions. Going through the boxes of Sybil’s late biographer, Flora Rheta Schreiber, which also contain her personal letters and photographs, impressed me with the intimacy of such collections. Here are some striking private details from the archives of three great public figures.”... New York Times: The 6th Floor, Oct. 18

To survive, indie bookstores need to act more like Amazon What can indie bookstores do to keep from dying out? Rich Adin writes: “First, if your local pizzeria can offer free delivery, why can’t your local indie store? Amazon’s delivery is quick, but indie delivery could be quicker, and we all know how unwilling we are to wait. Second, if the store is not already a corporation, make it one. Then create a nonvoting class of stock, and give one share for every $250 in purchases. Give the local book- buying public a direct stake in your success. Third, create a special members-only club. Amazon does this, and even some indies have their clubs—but none of them are really special.”... An American Editor, Nov. 28

Public libraries in the news in Africa Public libraries made headlines in Africa in November after meetings in which government officials and library leaders discussed the findings of a study on the role of public libraries in contributing to national and local development. The research is part of a six- country study, Perceptions of Public Libraries in Africa, conducted by the European nonprofit Electronic Information for Libraries. The countries studied were Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.... Electronic Information for Libraries, Nov. 15

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM] AL Direct, November 30, 2011

Libraries as art An exhibition titled “Library Science,” now on display at the Artspace gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, celebrates the inspirational effect libraries can have on the creative artist and how artists can highlight not only individual libraries through their work but also bring attention to some of the bigger issues facing modern libraries. The online exhibition catalog shows works by all of the 17 international artists featured in the exhibit, as well as information about visiting the gallery and satellite projects in other parts of the state.... Library As Incubator Project, Nov. 28; Artspace gallery

To Have App Have Not Overdue Masterpiece Theatre presents a Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library production (1:53). A stranded Hemingway novel contemplates life, duty, morality, and mobile apps in the company of another literary lost soul. “If only Mrs. Fleming knew about the new KC Library mobile application, she could renew me with the push of a button.”... YouTube, Nov. 11

Go back to the Top

Sign up to receive AL Direct every Wednesday here. American Libraries Magazine, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/november/113011-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:03:49 PM]